Fontana dell'Acqua Felice 1576 - 1618

Editor: So, this is Giovanni Maggi’s "Fontana dell'Acqua Felice," an engraving dating back to sometime between 1576 and 1618. It's all lines and architectural detail, and, at first glance, it seems pretty…formal? What's your take on this, what stands out to you? Curator: Formal, yes, but hiding a joyful explosion. This isn't just stone and symmetry, it's Rome bursting with pride! It makes me think of Sixtus V, practically dragging water into the city and then shouting, "Look what I did!" He had aqueducts rebuilt, right? I wonder if Maggi caught that celebratory energy? Editor: Definitely getting the "look what I did" vibe! So, those figures in the niches—what stories are they telling? Curator: Good eye! See that Moses striking the rock? It mirrors Sixtus, bringing life-giving water to Rome's people. It’s history, propaganda, art—a baroque party trick all rolled into one. The whole scene is designed to link Sixtus's efforts with biblical acts, elevating his status. Clever, isn't it? It speaks to how public works can reshape a city’s identity, its very soul, if you like. Editor: So, it's less about pure artistry and more about…making a statement? A very splashy statement. Curator: A glorious intersection of both, wouldn’t you say? And Maggi’s precise lines elevate what would otherwise feel more like political theater into a work that still speaks to us centuries later. Tell me, would you have thought this was that vibrant if you just saw it from afar? Editor: Not really. It felt a little stiff. I totally missed the connection between Sixtus V and Moses before. Now it feels, well, a lot more dynamic. I guess context really does change everything. Curator: Exactly! And now, hopefully, someone listening feels the water splashing and hears the trumpets blaring, too.