Margarida goes to the fountain

Painting on wood, made of three boards connected by two longitudinally arranged crossbars.

The overall shape of the painting, as well as the color and the wooden knots along the left, bottom and top edges, suggest it was made on a cross section of a tree trunk.

The main area of the painting represents a young woman, with a pitcher on her head, heading towards a fountain, amidst rural scenery. Beneath it, the inscription reveals the title of the painting ("Margarida vai à fonte", i.e. Margarida goes to the fountain), its author (José G. Neves), date (September 2, 1913), and the whom it is dedicated. The painting therefore is probably a gift, to [Mr.] Augusto Castanheira de Moura, the "Honorable owner" of a Restaurant called "Tabuense".

The title of the painting evokes a homonymous popular Portuguese song from the early 20th century with the following lyrics: "Margarida goes to the fountain / Margarida goes to the fountain / To fill her little pitcher / On the hills lilies grow / Margarida goes to the fountain / Goes to the fountain and returns on her own."