The second reason for this fountain not being chosen was the anonymous sketch included typical features of Bernini, like the goddess of Rome, the bearded faces Bernini liked too much. It also features two central niches, one a scroll in a lion skin, similar to the Dragon motif on the base of the Apollo and Daphne fountain. The last characteristic of Bernini was a shell that had a large bee acting as a water spout above it. This motif was used in the Palazzo Barberini .
The columns and pilasters in the design are also a typical characteristic, a geometric version, of the old rustic rock formations. Therefore, the design was not Bernini’s own creation; it was inspired by his typical design features, as seen in many of his creations. There are so many Bernini features that it is too much to be his. Bernini would not have been this presumptuous, so it is more likely that the artist was an admirer or associate of Bernini’s, who probably presented the design to Bernini instead of the authorities. It is possible that it was Luigi, Bernini’s brother, since the sketch was created between 1631-1640m just as a possible guess.
In conclusion, when it comes to the Trevi fountain, it was most likely not built because of the outbreak of war between Roma and the Duke of Parma in 1641. This was costly, and to quote this connection we look at a piece written from Gigli, an administrator to Urban VIII, “Buratto, the Chief Administrator, spoke for everyone and said that the Roman People had commanded us to offer to pay His Holiness for a third of the infantry during the war. The Pope was touched and tears came to his eyes and he thanked the People warmly and several times signaled the magistrates to stand; and then he talked for a long time, making it clear that he did not undertake this war willingly (as those present could see because he had maintained the peace continuously for 10 years) but his hand was forced by the Duke of Parma.” The next quote goes to further show how “enthusiastic” the people were about the war efforts, and how much they loved it, Gigli also wrote in July 1644: “the people were very happy when Urban died…”.