In 1581, Patrizio Grandi, a rich merchant, built a public fountain in the former via Paolina, which he had decorated with this statue.

According to the custom established by Pope Pius IV, he obtained free water for his house and fields in exchange for donating the fountain to the city.

Pasquinades – irreverent satirical inscriptions poking fun at public figures – were posted beside the "talking statues" of Rome in the 16th century.

The pasquinades (or, in Italian, pasquinate) of Il Babuino are more properly called babuinate, but the principle of satirical criticism is the same.

The tradition of political comment continued as graffiti in modern times, to the extent that the fountain was considered an eyesore rather than an asset to this upmarket street.