Design for a Fountain with Papal Keys
1750â1775
Medium
architecture
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-423
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This architectural design for a fountain, created between 1750 and 1775, showcases the intricate planning behind public water features of the 18th century. Rendered by an unknown artist, it centers on the papal keys—crossed gold and silver symbols of St. Peter and the Pope's spiritual authority over the Keys to Heaven. Such motifs were common in ecclesiastical or grand civic architecture, blending religious iconography with ornate decoration typical of the late Baroque or emerging Rococo styles. Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection (museum purchase through various donors), t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...