Design for the Fontana di Venere e Adone, Reggia di Caserta, Naples

Design for a sculpture group meant to be placed on top of the small cascade of one of six fountains in the gardens of the Palazzo Reale or “Reggia” di Caserta. The design shows the story of Venus and Adonis, set in a river landscape with nymphs and playing cupids or putti. Venus and Adonis are depicted in the center of the arrangement. Above their heads, a cupid aims his bow and arrow at the young man. The seated Venus grabs her lover by the arm, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Adonis from departing on his fateful last hunt.

This design by Fischetti is of historical significance since his involvement in the development of the gardens of the Palazzo Reale was so far unknown. Fischetti is documented to have worked on other projects in the palazzo at various moments in his career, supplying amongst others designs for a series of tapestries. He was present at the palace in 1767 and then again between 1777/78 and 1781, which coincides with the garden project and is presumably when he executed this drawing. The design shows similarities, but was not the exact model for the sculpture group that was executed in marble between 1783 and 1788 by the Neapolitan sculptor Gaetano Salomone (active in Italy, 2nd half of the 18th century).