Wall Fountain of The Tigris By Michelangelo, Florence, Italy
Wall Fountain Of The Tigris - 1534
Italian garden decor of the type with a single niche remained popular in Italy, but the delicate carving of the early masters was forgotten with the new interest in wall fountains in the round. The enfacement was now left almost severely plain, while the sculptors concentrated upon classic wall fountains, carved completely in the round, within the recess. The basin was usually of an oblong, trough-like shape reminiscent of ancient sarcophagi or of the great bathtubs from ancient Roman times. This style of rustic wall fountain can still be found to this day among the paths and roads of many Italian towns.
Such wall mounted fountains flourished particularly in Rome, where there was an abundance antique marble, used in the construction of these water wall fountains. All that was missing was a niche for the wall fountains, an ancient river god, and a sarcophagus to serve as a basin. The famous garden of the Belvedere in the Vatican, rich in classical sculpture, set the example for such pastiches to all Italy. Four ancient statues were there incorporated into outdoor wall fountain designs; three river gods, the Nile, Tiber, and Tigris, and the recumbent female figure then known as "Cleopatra." This theme remained popular for decades.
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These antique garden fountain examples have long since been dismantled, and their marbles deposited in museums; but a drawing by Martin van Heemskerck preserves the form of the wall fountain of the Tigris, designed by Michelangelo at the request of Clement VII, and therefore to be dated during the years of his pontificate, 1523 to 1534.
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