Rome's Most Popular Elephant!

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Elephant by Ercole Ferrata, Piazza della Minerva

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On July 10th 1686, the sculptor Ercole Ferrata (1610-87) died in Rome. 

Ferrata (1610-86), who was one of the greatest exponents of Roman Baroque sculpture, is thought to have carved the much-loved elephant in Piazza della Minerva.  

The elephant (1667), which was designed by the great Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), sports an ancient Egyptian obelisk on its back.  

Ercole Ferrata was working on a sculpture of Saint Anastasia when he died. It was completed by Francesco Aprile (1657-1710) and is to be found in the church of Sant' Anastasio. 

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Saint Anastasia by Ercole Ferrata and Francesco Aprile, Church of Sant' Anastasia