Design for a Wall Fountain 1550 - 1620

This pen and brown ink drawing, “Design for a Wall Fountain,” sits in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its creator remains anonymous. The drawing presents a wealth of information about the cultural values of the period from which it emerged. The fountain’s design, with its male figure shouldering a planter, recalls classical sculpture. Its careful execution suggests the patron was wealthy and educated, aligning them with Renaissance humanism and its interests in representing the human form. However, the fountain's aquatic motifs and the inclusion of what appears to be a nude female figure point to the gendered dimensions of art and design during this time. Who were the intended viewers of this fountain? How did the artist navigate the complex politics of representing the human body while adhering to the expectations of their patron? The drawing opens a space for us to consider the power dynamics at play in the production and reception of art.