Three Coins in the Fountain is a triptych comprised of Red, Yellow, and Purple silkscreen editions designed by George Rodrigue in 2003 and produced in 2020. These Estate Editions of 100 measure 12 x 12 inches each and are available for purchase as a Triptych set (SOLD OUT) or individually as Red, Yellow, or Purple from Rodrigue Studios or online.
George Rodrigue with Three Coins in the Fountain circa 2003.
Rodrigue painted Three Coins in the Fountain in the summer of 2003 in his Carmel, CA, home following a trip to Italy. The triptych was inspired by the 1954 romantic comedy, which featured the three stars of the film each throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Frank Sinatra famously sang the title song for the film with the lyrics:
Three coins in the fountain, each one seeking happiness. Thrown by three hopeful lovers, which one will the fountain bless? . . . Just one wish will be granted. One heart will wear a valentine. Make it mine!”
Typical to Rodrigue’s process, he used references from popular culture to title his work in order to bestow his vision with deeper layers of meaning. In most of these pieces, Rodrigue presented the Blue Dog asking the eternal, ever-present questions common to all people such as, “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” However, here we see the shape and color of Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog, set on three different, strongly-colored backgrounds of red, purple, and yellow specifically each asking that question common to all dreamers, “Will my wish be granted?”
*Price and availability subject to change without notice. Updated in 2021.