A Fountain in a Grotto

ca. 1598

Not on view

During the 16th century, Italian nobles developed a taste for artificial grottoes in their gardens and sometimes even in their houses. Artists, such as Giambologna and Bernardo Buontalenti became very skilled in inventing landscapes of rocks and shells often inhabited by amphibians, invertebrates and other animals. The aquatic nature of most of these grottoes also lent itself well to the inclusion of fountains and statues of deities connected to water. In this design by Giovanni Guerra, a river god is seated on the rocks. He supports two amphorae from which water falls into the basin below.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: A Fountain in a Grotto
Artist: Giovanni Guerra (Italian, Modena 1544–1618 Rome)
Date: ca. 1598
Medium: Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of black and red chalk
Dimensions: maximum, corners cut to octagonal shape: 10 3/4 × 7 1/4 in. (27.3 × 18.4 cm)
Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
Credit Line: Purchase, James A. and Maria R. Warth Gift, in memory of Anne and Peter Warth, 1999
Object Number: 1999.63
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Giovanni Guerra

In the same medium

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Design for a Wall Decoration with the Coat of Arms of the Borghese Family., Giovanni Guerra Italian, Pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of leadpoint or black chalk — Design for a Wall Decoration with the Coat of Arms of the Borghese Family.
Giovanni Guerra
1590–1618

Vestal Virgin, Giovanni Guerra Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, on white paper — Vestal Virgin
Giovanni Guerra
16th century

Saint Paul Surrounded by Disciples after His Lapidation at Lystra (Acts 14:20), Giovanni Guerra Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and pale brown wash — Saint Paul Surrounded by Disciples after His Lapidation at Lystra (Acts 14:20)
Giovanni Guerra
1590–1618

Design after a Fountain in the Villa Aldobrandini at Frascati, Giovanni Guerra Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush with brown wash and pale blue-gray watercolor accents (on the depictions of water), over leadpoint or black chalk, with ruling and compass construction — Design after a Fountain in the Villa Aldobrandini at Frascati
Giovanni Guerra
1590–1600

Lucretia, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) Italian, Pen and brown ink over black chalk, partially incised with a stylus (recto); rubbed with black chalk for transfer (verso) — Lucretia
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
1508–10

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