Fountain de La Mariblanca

In 1727 Pedro de Ribera was commissioned to replace the Fountain of the Harpies, located in the Puerta del Sol, which had been projected a century earlier by Italian sculptor Rutilio Gaci.

While the Madrilenian architect took some elements of the early fountain, completely redid the work of his predecessor, due to its deterioration.

He opted for a slimmer and lower composition, on the line which, years later, would propose to the Fuente de la Fama, though much more restrained than this.

This was none other than the Mariblanca, the famous white marble statue, possibly a representation of Venus, which was imported from Italy in 1619 and now is in the Casa de la Villa, after suffering all kinds of avatars and numerous moved.

[1] The fountain designed by Ribera was demolished in 1838, decades before of proceed with the great reform of the Puerta del Sol, which led to its current path.