The Rijksmuseum has received a sculpture by the Italian artist Bernini on permanent loan from a private collection.

In 1653, Bernini made the model of the standing Triton, a mythical sea creature, for a the central statue of the southern fountain on Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most important squares. It is known as the Fontana del Moro. The final version of this impressive central figure was rendered in marble by Bernini’s assistant Giovanni Antonio Mari.
The figure remained unnoticed for centuries, partly because it was privately owned by Cardinal Flavio Chigi’s descendants, who had personal ties to Bernini, and partly due to a thick layer of dark paint obscuring its quality. A 2018 restoration revealed Bernini’s characteristic virtuosity.

Source: rijksmuseum.nl