Who painted Women and Children at a Fountain?

Women and Children at a Fountain was painted by Pirro Ligorio in 1548.

Where can I see Women and Children at a Fountain?

Women and Children at a Fountain is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Women and Children at a Fountain?

Women and Children at a Fountain is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Women and Children at a Fountain

Pirro Ligorio , 1548

Women and Children at a Fountain is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Pirro Ligorio. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Pirro Ligorio’s drawing, dated 1548, depicts a modest gathering of women and children beside a shallow fountain. Executed in pen and brown ink with a brown wash on laid paper, the composition is mounted on an older album leaf. The work functions as a study, capturing a moment of everyday activity in a simple architectural setting.

Subject & Meaning

Four figures occupy the scene: a central woman in flowing robes guiding a child’s hand, a kneeling child drinking from the basin, a second woman leaning forward in a long dress, and a small boy holding a tray. The arrangement suggests a communal pause for water, emphasizing domestic routine and the social role of fountains as gathering points.

Technique & Style

Ligorio employs fine pen lines combined with cross‑hatching to model forms and suggest volume, while a light brown wash unifies the surface and conveys a muted atmosphere. The laid paper’s texture contributes to the sketch‑like quality, and the restrained architectural backdrop—steps and a ledge—provides spatial context without detracting from the figures.

History & Provenance

The drawing is mounted on an older album sheet, indicating it was later incorporated into a collection of sketches or studies. Created during Ligorio’s mature period, the work reflects his interest in integrating architectural elements with genre scenes, a practice that informed his later architectural treatises and designs.