Fontanella del Facchino te Rome 1637

This is Domenico Parasacchi's engraving of the "Fontanella del Facchino" in Rome, executed sometime in the mid-17th century. The composition presents a symmetrical, almost architectural rendering of the fountain, emphasizing its constructed form. Notice how the precise lines delineate the fountain's various components, from the tiered stonework to the figure of the "facchino," or porter, at its center. The porter holds a barrel from which water flows, a motif that speaks to the fountain's function and the daily lives of Roman workers. The choice of engraving as a medium underscores the importance of line and form, reducing the visual information to its most fundamental elements. This formal reduction allows us to consider the fountain not merely as a source of water but as a constructed symbol within the urban landscape. The blank shield at the top and the fountain's careful symmetry invite contemplation of public space, civic identity, and the interplay between utility and artistic representation.