Design for a Wall Fountain 1550 - 1620

This is a pen and brown ink drawing for a wall fountain of unknown authorship. The central figure is a male nude holding a basket-like structure with a small tree emerging from it. The motif of a figure carrying a heavy object above their head is a testament to the cultural memory of burden and support, found in classical antiquity with the myth of Atlas bearing the world. But consider also the caryatids, architectural support sculpted as a draped female figure, or even the weight-bearing columns in Egyptian temples. The human form—burdened yet also strong—becomes a symbol of resilience and endurance, echoing through time and transforming across cultures. This image engages our subconscious, evoking empathy and awe for the silent carriers of history, a lineage extending from ancient myths to contemporary realities. And so, this symbol resurfaces, evolving in form but retaining its primal power to touch the human psyche.