Fontana del Gigante, Naples

The statue coupled with the fountain can be seen in this location in some paintings from past centuries, including one by Gaspar van Wittel preserved in the public art gallery of the Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano on via Toledo.

[1] The statue of the Giant had been assembled in 1670 after a colossal bust, putatively depicting Jupiter Stator, was found in Cumae, to which the other parts were added.

By 1904 a letter to a Neapolitan magazine complained the state of deterioration of the fountain and had proposed to place it in newly arising district of Villa Santa Lucia, that was about to be built at that time.

[2] The richly decorated, Mannerist ensemble of the monumental fountain is articulated through three round arches, above which are placed the heraldic symbols of the Viceroy of Naples and his king.

Manfredo Manfredi was inspired by this fountain for the creation of the arch of the Carosello, which from 1963 appeared in the opening of the famous advertising program broadcast on RAI between 1957 and 1977.