Head of a Prophet, from the “Beautiful Fountain” in Nuremberg

The architecture of the “Beautiful Fountain” was completed by 1392 by Heinrich Beheim, a city councillor and architect of the Church of St. Sebald in Nuremberg. The fountain, in the market square, was completely restored after 1821 and from 1897 to 1902, the figures being replaced with copies. The heads are from the pyramidal tower in the centre of the fountain. In the upper tier were patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament, and in the lower nine heroes renowned in history and seven Electors representing the electoral college of the Holy Roman Emperors. There was a specific purpose in placing prophets who called for justice on earth on a fountain: the concept of justice is associated in their writings with images of springs and flowing water.