Design for a Gothic Fountain

c. 1470

Master W with the Key

(Netherlandish, active about 1465–1490)

Culture

Flanders

Medium

engraving

Measurements

Platemark: 23.3 x 7.5 cm (9 3/16 x 2 15/16 in.); Sheet: 23.6 x 10.8 cm (9 5/16 x 4 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Dudley P. Allen Fund 1937.565

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Location

101B Prints & Drawings

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Description

Early engravings indicate strong connections among goldsmiths, architects, and engravers. Architectural engravings like this one have been linked to the workshop environment of Gothic cathedrals built in the 1400s, notable for their pointed arches and intricate stained glass. Such engravings may have been used to transfer or document designs. This example may depict a Gothic table fountain, with water flowing from gargoyle heads into square basins below. Surviving prints suggest that the artist was part of the circle of Duke Charles the Bold (1433–1477), who championed technological advancements and luxurious displays of wealth at the Burgundian court.