Drawing of a Fountain 1500 - 1600

This anonymous drawing from the 16th century depicts a fountain design featuring two nude female figures holding a large, ornate basin. The figures are depicted in a naturalistic style and their bodies are rendered with great detail, with the artist's focus on the anatomical accuracy of the figures suggesting an interest in the ideals of the High Renaissance. The fountain's design is a mix of classical elements, including the scrollwork at the base of the fountain and the shell-like basin, which is adorned with a ribbon and a central flower. This drawing exemplifies the interest in classical aesthetics and the use of the human figure as a decorative element during the Renaissance period. This drawing is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.