Design Fragment for the Left Side of the 'Fonte Gaia' in Siena 1415 - 1416

This pen drawing by the Italian artist Jacopo della Quercia, made around 1415-1416, is a fragment of a design for the "Fonte Gaia" fountain in Siena, Italy. The drawing depicts a series of figures set within a complex architectural framework, including the Virgin and Child, angels, and a seated female figure. The intricate detail of the design, characteristic of della Quercia's work, suggests the monumental scale of the original fountain. This preparatory drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, provides a glimpse into the artist's creative process and the development of his ideas for this important public commission.