Nis met fontein waarop een vrouw ligt before 1800

This print of a fountain with a reclining woman was made by Daniël Marot around the turn of the 18th century in the Netherlands. Marot was an influential designer who brought French Baroque style to the Netherlands and England. This image, which would have been part of a larger book of designs, gives us insight into the world of courtly life and its cultural values. The architecture of the fountain integrates classical sculptures, suggesting the importance of humanism and the revival of classical learning to this social milieu. This elaborate fountain design served as a demonstration of wealth and sophistication; such objects were status symbols for the elite. Historians look into the original design books and architectural plans to understand the relationship between art, power and social status in this period. By studying these, the cultural values that shaped artistic production become clearer.