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Fontana delle Tette

Fontana delle Tette is an old fountain in Treviso, Italy, built in 1559 on the orders of Alvise Da Ponte during a severe drought. It was originally placed inside the Praetorian Palace on via Calmaggiore. Under the Venetian Republic, it became known for a yearly tradition in which red wine flowed from one breast and white wine from the other for three days to celebrate the arrival of a new podestà. The fountain shows a topless woman squeezing her breasts, with water flowing from her nipples to represent breast milk. A plaque nearby describes its history, and the fountain was rebuilt in 1989.

Fontana delle Tette stone sculpture with water flowing from the breasts.
Fontana delle Tette in Treviso, showing a weathered stone female torso with water running from the breasts.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fontana delle Tette stone fountain with a topless female bust and water flowing into a basin below.
The Fontana delle Tette features a topless female bust with water flowing into a stone basin.
© Foto scattata da me · CC BY 3.0
Fontana delle Tette stone fountain with a topless female statue and water flowing into a round basin.
The Fontana delle Tette in Treviso, shown as a stone fountain with water flowing from the statue’s breasts into the basin below.
April 2008 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Fontana delle Tette stone sculpture of a female torso with cupped breasts and a simplified face with small perforations.
The Fontana delle Tette shown as a weathered stone female torso with cupped breasts and a simplified perforated face.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marble plaques on a reddish-brown wall beside the Fontana delle Tette, with one plaque in uppercase text and a smaller cursive plaque below.
Marble plaques describing the history of the Fontana delle Tette.
© Foto scattata da me · CC BY 3.0

Identification

TitleFontana delle Tette
Alternative namesFontana dełe tete; Fontaine des seins ou des tétons
LanguageVenetian
TypeFountain
Original nameFountana de łe tete

Historical context

Historical useUnder the Republic of Venice, it dispensed white and red wine during special festivities in honor of each new podestà
Public accessAll citizens could drink it for free for three days
Reason for constructionBuilt after a severe drought that struck Treviso and the surrounding countryside
Date built1559

Creator

Commissioner's rolePodestà of Treviso under the Republic of Venice
Commissioned byAlvise da Ponte, podestà of the Republic of Venice

Physical characteristics

Depicted figureA topless woman squeezing her breasts
Water featureWater, or in some accounts wine, flowed from her breasts
Material mentionedMarble basin

Location and ownership

Replica locationCourtyard of Palazzo Zignoli
PlaqueA plaque near the fountain, in the courtyard of Palazzo Zignoli, bears a descriptive inscription
Access to replica locationAccessible from the gallery connecting Calmaggiore to Piazzetta della Torre and Calle del Podestà
Original locationInside the Palazzo Pretorio on Via Calmaggiore in Treviso
Reason for original sculpture placementFor conservation reasons
Original sculpture locationIn a display case under the portico of Palazzo dei Trecento
Current locationMuseo Casa da Noal, Treviso

History and restoration

RediscoveryRecovered by the abbot Luigi Bailo
ReconstructionRebuilt in 1989
Replica sculptorMiguel Miranda Quinones, a Peruvian sculptor
Historical event affecting the sculptureDismantled at the fall of the Republic of Venice and lost

Technique

Engineering detailThe water was supplied by a contraption with wheels, later removed to nearby Cagnano

Appearance

Quoted descriptionDescribed by Matteo Sernagiotto as a lovely lady over a marble basin, squeezing her swollen breasts, with two living fountains of crystal-clear water