Design for a Fountain with Neptune in his Chariot

Francesco Fontebasso

ca. 1740–60 · Black and red chalk, pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash · Drawings and Prints

Design for a fountain with the figure of Neptune in his chariot. The outline of the fountain describes a pyramid with Neptune on his shell-shaped chariot in the center at the top, flanked by two seated nymphs and four hippocampi at the bottom of the design drawing the chariot. In between the hippocampi, a putto on a dolphin is depicted. Below the horses a shell-shaped basin of water is indicates from which water seems to stream down.

Artist

Francesco Fontebasso

Date

ca. 1740–60

Medium

Black and red chalk, pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Mary Oenslager Fund, Sotheby's Inc. Gift, Van Day Truex Fund, Susan H. Seidel and Joseph F. McCrindle Gifts, 2013