Details
Description
Baroque Hydraulics: Georg Andreas Böckler's Architectural Fountain Designs
________________________________________
This is a magnificent set of six 17th-Century Engravings by the …
Read more
Baroque Hydraulics: Georg Andreas Böckler's Architectural Fountain Designs
________________________________________
This is a magnificent set of six 17th-Century Engravings by the German architect and engineer Georg Andreas Böckler (d. 1687), featuring highly imaginative designs for elaborate Baroque fountains. These prints originate from Böckler's influential treatise on hydraulics, Architectura Curiosa Nova (New Curious Architecture), first published in 1664.
The prints are detailed architectural studies of fantastical, often playful, fountain designs suitable for grand European settings, including public squares and private country house gardens (often in the French, German, British, and Italian styles). The subjects include tiered pedestal fountains that produce complex water effects, such as the repeating radial pattern (starburst) and column sprays seen here. The prints are notable for their clean line work and fine delineation, sometimes enhanced with subtle hand-coloring (not explicitly stated but implied by the visual subtlety).
• Artist/Engraver: Georg Andreas Böckler (German, died 1687)
• Publication: Architectura Curiosa Nova
• Date: circa 1664
• Medium: Black and White Engravings on Laid Paper
• Subject: Architectural Designs for Hydraulic Fountains
• Dimensions (Framed): 18 3/4 inches (47.63 cm) High x 15 inches (38.10 cm) Wide
• Dimensions (Sight): 10 3/5 inches High x 7 1/4 inches Wide
• Provenance: John Rosselli (Retail label on reverse)
Historical Context: The Golden Age of Hydraulics and Garden Design
These engravings are not merely decorative art; they are technical and aspirational documents from the height of the Baroque period, reflecting the era's fascination with engineering, spectacle, and the mastery of nature.
Georg Andreas Böckler's Influence
Böckler, an engineer who also studied fortifications and classical architecture (translating Palladio), established his reputation as a theoretical architect whose ideas transcended national styles. His Architectura Curiosa Nova was one of the most important Baroque-era publications on hydraulic engineering. It was intended as a practical handbook for wealthy patrons and designers, offering a comprehensive overview of how water could be manipulated to create spectacular, varying effects—a necessity for any grand formal garden of the era.
The Baroque Fountain
In the 17th century, the complexity of a fountain was a direct status symbol, showcasing the owner's wealth, taste, and, most importantly, their technical control over nature. Böckler's prints showcase the popular designs of the time, often featuring classical forms (vases, pedestals) and abstract natural elements (palm fronds, starbursts) achieved purely through the clever manipulation of water pressure and jets. The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes his work for its variety of options for creating these distinctive and dazzling aquatic displays.
References
• Böckler, Georg Andreas. Architectura Curiosa Nova (Nuremberg, 1664). (Original publication source).
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). Catalogue entry referencing Böckler's work and the significance of his book as a manual on hydraulics for Baroque architects and designers (Accession Number cited in description).
(Ref: NY10378-crrr)
See less
- Dimensions
- 15ʺW × 1ʺD × 18.75ʺH
- Frame Type
- Framed
- Art Subjects
- Architecture
- Period
- 17th Century
- Country of Origin
- Germany
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Engraving
- Paper
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Black
- Condition Notes
- Nice condition Nice condition less
Questions about the item?
Returns & Cancellations
Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
Related Collections
- Ross Bleckner Original Prints
- Tatiana Alida Original Prints
- Greg Copeland Original Prints
- Clay Walker Original Prints
- Raffia Original Prints
- Leonardo Nierman Original Prints
- Spray Paint Original Prints
- Red Grooms Original Prints
- Carrie Bergey Original Prints
- Balmain Original Prints
- Chaim Gross Original Prints
- Gorman Original Prints
- William Meyerowitz Original Prints
- Teak Original Prints
- Botanical Prints
- Japanese Woodblock Prints
- Woodblock Prints
- Bird Prints
- Framed Prints
- Screen Prints
- Black and White Prints
- Thomas McKnight Original Prints
- Classical Greek Original Prints
- Piero Fornasetti Original Prints
- Arthur Secunda Original Prints