- Type of object:Public Sculpture / Fountain
- Measurements (H/W/D):1250 cm
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Materials & Techniques:
Marble, stone / Carving
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Inscriptions & Markings:
Central supporting block, in the three cartouches; carved: MDCCLI // FRANCESCO ROBBA // FECIT MDCCLI [damaged]CCL[damaged]
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Date or Period:
1743 – 1751 / Baroque period
- Maker:Robba, Francesco (1698 - 1757)
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Subject:
Fountain with sculptures and an obelisk
- Title:Fountain of the Three Carniolan Rivers
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Distinguishing Features:
The basin, the central block with the cartouches, the volutes and the obelisk are moderately to majorly damaged. The figure with the staff: there are cracks on the figure’s right toes, right ankle, on the jug he is holding, on the figure’s forehead and right eye. The upper part of the staff is missing. He is missing a part of his right pinky toe. His right hand is majorly deteriorated. He is missing his right thumb. His nose is chipped. The fish below his legs is missing a part of its tail fin, it has cracks around its head. There are cracks on the rocks with the vine. The figure with the cornucopia: the figure is missing his left big toe, his right pinky toe and his right index finger. There are cracks on the rocks behind his right side. There is a large crack stretching from the figure’s left thigh to the bottom of the rocks on which he is standing. The young figure: The fish beneath the figure’s legs is missing its tail fin, the tip of its back fin, and the fin under its tail. The left side of the fish’s mouth is slightly chipped. There is a crack on the figure’s right ankle, on the rock behind the snail, below the figure’s right ribs and on the rocks behind his left leg. The figure is missing his right index finger. The brim of the drapery on his left side at knee-level is slightly damaged. There is damage on the drapery covering his back. There are two parallel vertical dents on the figure’s back with traces of metal oxidation, presumably from metal braces. There are two parallel lines of three dents and one large semicircular dent on the left side of the figure’s bottom. Two vases above the central block are missing.
A marble fountain made from 1743 to 1751 by the Baroque sculptor Francesco Robba (1698 – 1757). The fountain was commissioned in 1743, but was unveiled in 1751. The base is dodecagonal and consists of four steps. On top of the base is a basin. The basin is a combination of circular segments and rectangular elements. Above the basin are three similar male figures. They are all naked or only modestly draped with drapery, they stand with one foot on a fish or dolphin or next to it, with the other on a rock and with their hand they hold a vessel from which water flows. The two figures with longer beard are crowned with a laurel wreath. The first holds the remains of a staff in his left hand, and a oval jug in his right hand. His left hand is resting on a rock along which a vine is growing. The second figure holds a jug in his right hand, supporting it with his right leg, and a cornucopia (large horn-shaped container overflowing with fruit, flowers, etc.) in his left hand. The third figure with a moustache and short beard has no special attributes. He is holding a jug in his hands, supporting it with his right leg. The rocks around the figures are enlivened by small vegetation, on one figure a snail crawls on it, and on the other a vine hangs over it. In the middle of the basin, behind and above the figures is the central supporting block with an inscription cartouche on each of the three sides. Above the cartouches is a volute capital with three decorative vases and a concave-convex element. Two of the three vases are missing. Above it is a three-sided obelisk. The basin is made from Podpeč stone, the obelisk from stone sourced from the Lesno Brdo quarry, and the sculptural ornamentation is carved from Carrara marble. In 2006, the original fountain was renovated and moved into the National Gallery of Slovenia, whereas at the Town Square it has been replaced by a replica.
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Object ID No.:
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Related Written Material:
Klemenčič, M., Francesco Robba in beneško baročno kiparstvo v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, 1998. Klemenčič, M., "Francesco Robba" in La scultura a Venezia da Sansovino a Canova, Milan, 2000. Klemenčić, M., Robbov vodnjak: zgodba mestnega simbola, Ljubljana, Narodna galerija, 2010. Klemenčič, Matej, et al., editors. Barok v Sloveniji: Slikarstvo in kiparstvo. Narodna galerija Slovenije, 2025.
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Place of Origin/Discovery:
Originally located in front of Ljubljana Town Hall at Town Square in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Replaced with a copy, the original is now at the National Gallery of Slovenia.
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Cross Reference to Related Objects:
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Date Documented:
2025-06-09
