An Impressive 17th-Century Viceregal Earthenware

What is it about?

The article explores a unique 17th-century artifact featured in a still-life painting by Juan de Espinosa: a red terracotta table fountain. These fascinating devices, popular during the Baroque era, combined artistry with scientific ingenuity, functioning as both decorative objects and hydromechanical experiments. The table fountain in Espinosa’s painting showcases how air pressure experiments, inspired by ancient figures like Hero of Alexandria, influenced ceramic manufacturing in Spanish America and Europe. The research highlights the likely Mexican origins of the fountain, linking it to the renowned Tonalá pottery workshops, and situates it within a broader cultural exchange between the Iberian Peninsula and its American viceroyalties. The artifact's design – structured in three levels with flowing water – evokes a multisensory experience, blending visual appeal with the sound of trickling water and the scent of perfumed terracotta. This study sheds light on the overlooked scientific and artistic innovations of the polycentric Spanish Empire, emphasizing its role in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscapes of the Baroque period. Through the read of Espinosa’s painting, we gain a glimpse of the interplay between art, science, and material culture in an interconnected early modern Iberian world.

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