In the Crystal Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, what do the four characters represent? Why is one faces covered?

Question

Located in Rome

Answer 1

the four characters are the greatest rivers of the four continents known in those times: danube for europe, ganges for asia, rio de la plata for america and nile for africa. the nile has a veil on his face because the sources of the nile were still a mystery in those times. it doesnt face borromini's church so the legend of the dispute between him and bernini doesnt stand. instead the rio de la plata holds his hand in front of his face as if he were to protect himself from the falling of the church (that stands in front of him), so in this case maybe bernini really wanted to be polemic. remember that the sculptures were made by bernini's apprentices: raggi, poussin, baratta and fancelli.

Answer 2

The four figures represent 4 major rivers: the Danube, the Gange, the Nile and the Rio della Plata, as symbols of the four continents. The legend has it that as there was rivalry between Bernini, author of the fountain and Borromini, who designed the church of Sant'Agnese which stands to the side of the fountain. The figure wearing the veil is covering his face so he won't have to look at the church, which Bernini considered an eye sore. The other character facing the church has his armed raised to protect himself as, according to Bernini, the church was so badly built it was likely to callapse.