Design for a Fountain with Two Water-Spouting Lions (recto); Sketch for Triumph of Galatea [?] (verso). 1652 - 1725

Curator: This drawing, currently residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is attributed to Giovanni Battista Foggini. The piece is titled "Design for a Fountain with Two Water-Spouting Lions", created sometime between 1652 and 1725. Editor: There's a wonderful energy to it, despite being a preliminary sketch. The lions holding the urn have this heraldic, almost aggressive pose, balanced by the flowing lines of the fountain below. I imagine the real marble sculpture would be breathtaking. Curator: Absolutely, consider the interplay of line and volume. The rapid strokes delineate form but also imply texture, hinting at the opulence of the intended fountain. Note also the dynamic symmetry achieved through the carefully placed lions mirroring one another, a perfect symmetry. Editor: I am immediately drawn to the materials and techniques required for its physical realization. Consider the quarrying, carving, and finishing of the stone—the sheer amount of artisanal labor. It feels far removed from today's instant production processes. I would want to understand the precise geology of the marble and what types of tools were employed. Curator: Certainly, but it's also worth exploring how Foggini employs the classical language of the Baroque to communicate power and authority. The lion motif itself is highly symbolic, often representing strength and dominion. Look how these are combined in an artful rendering. Editor: Power expressed through material display. This fountain, should it have been realised, was clearly destined for a location, either public or private, where water, light, and reflections upon the stone’s surface could serve to amplify social distinctions and underscore ideas of luxury. One has to wonder about Foggini's client. Curator: Indeed. But let's not neglect its pure artistic achievement: a sketch that offers a glimpse into the design process of a major artist and is aesthetically satisfying in its own right. Editor: For me, this fountain is a beautiful reminder that an object has both a cultural and historical framework to illuminate its place within time.