Ronde fontein ondersteund door sfinxen op een binnenplaats 1568

Joannes van Doetechum created this print of a courtyard fountain sometime in the late 16th century. Doetechum was a prolific engraver in the Netherlands, where the production of prints was well organized by powerful publishing houses. This image is one of many that were made for distribution to wealthy patrons. The fountain shows a complex design of classical figures and plant motifs, the kinds of things wealthy landowners would incorporate into their gardens to demonstrate their knowledge of antiquity and their sophisticated taste. In the Low Countries at this time, the wealthy merchant class was expanding, and they became important patrons of the arts. This print indexes that shift in social power and makes available the kind of imagery they would consume. Historical sources such as estate inventories can tell us more about the circulation of images like this one and how they fueled the growth of the art market.