Design for the Fontana di Venere e Adone, Reggia di Caserta, Naples 1780

Fedele Fischetti created this design for the Fontana di Venere e Adone in Naples using pen and brown ink with gray wash over graphite. The drawing employs a horizontal composition where figures and landscape elements are meticulously arranged across the sheet. Fischetti uses contrasting washes to define forms. Notice how the rocky terrain is built up from lighter to darker tones, creating depth and texture. The figures, rendered with delicate lines, are proportionally integrated within this setting. The subject matter—Venus, Adonis, and attendant figures—draws on classical mythology, a common theme in 18th-century art. The ordered arrangement and allegorical content invite the viewer to interpret the artwork through the lens of Enlightenment ideals. The deliberate placement of each element speaks to the philosophical underpinnings of the era. While appearing decorative, the artwork engages with broader cultural narratives about nature, beauty, and the human condition, reflecting a period deeply invested in reason and aesthetic refinement.