Sketches of a trip to Spain: Puerta del Sol, in MadridLa puerta del Sol, Madrid 1836

John Frederick Lewis created this sketch of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, capturing the heart of the city. The fountain at its center, teeming with life, presents a modern take on the classical symbol of the wellspring of life. Notice how Lewis brings the ancient motif of the gathering place to life: consider the Roman forum, once the center of civic life. The bustle of people, the commerce, the shared space—it’s a pattern as old as civilization itself. Such a symbol of community appears throughout history, from village wells to town squares, each a vessel for human interaction. Like the Renaissance fountains, this fountain, while practical, invites a moment of pause, reflecting the collective spirit. Though the significance of the fountain has altered from sacred to secular, its essence remains. It serves as a physical and psychological locus where collective memory and daily life converge. Lewis captures not just a place, but a moment in the unending cycle of human congregation and exchange.