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Women and Children at a Fountain

Pirro Ligorio

1548

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

Women and Children at a Fountain is a 1548 ink by Pirro Ligorio, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Pirro Ligorio
When & what style?: 1548 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a group of four figures around a shallow fountain. A woman in flowing robes stands at the center, holding a child’s hand while another child kneels to drink. To the left, a woman in a long dress leans forward, and on the right, a small boy holds a tray. The background has simple architectural details like steps and a ledge. The soft brown ink and wash give it a faded, sketchy feel—like a quick study. The scene looks calm but busy, with everyone focused on the water. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines.