Design for a Table Fountain 1500 - 1600

This is an anonymous design for a table fountain, made with pen and brown ink. The drawing presents us with an intricate symmetrical structure, its formal balance immediately striking. The fountain's various tiers, rendered with meticulous detail, rise in measured progression, culminating in a small statuette. The use of line is particularly noteworthy. Each contour is sharply defined, delineating form and texture with precision. The shadows, lightly indicated, give a sense of depth and volume, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the design. The fountain’s geometric clarity, combined with the delicate rendering of its ornamental details, speaks to a broader engagement with architectural and sculptural principles. The linear exactitude suggests that this drawing is not merely a representation but also a kind of proposition. The fountain is presented as an ordered space, contained by line and form, but also a symbol of cultural and aesthetic aspirations.