posted on 2017-07-03, 00:00authored byG. Massiot & cie
The actual carving of the sculpture was done by assistants to Bernini. Its travertine base, populated with four giant marble personifications of the rivers Danube, Nile, Ganges and Plate [the four great rivers in the four continents recognized by the Renaissance geographers: the Nile in Africa, Ganges in Asia, Danube in Europe, and R\u00EDo de la Plata in America. Each has animals and plants that further carry forth the identification.]... supports an ancient granite obelisk moved from the Circus of Maxentius. Bernini daringly pierced the base on all sides, thus opening a view through and making the massive obelisk appear to hover weightlessly above the void.