Have you noticed the playful smile on that young boy’s face? This is L’Aquaiolo Statue. L’Aquaiolo means the water seller in Italian. The statue depicts a naked adolescent offering water with a charming smile.
L’Aquaiolo is a bronze fountain by Italian sculptor Vincenzo Gemito. He was born in Italy in 1852 and died in 1929. Gemito was known for his bronze statues of slender and playful young boys. These often had homoerotic undertones.
Notice the water jug resting on the boy’s right hip. It pours water into the fountain below. In his left hand, he holds a small jar offering water to someone we cannot see.
Gemito ingeniously combined sculpture and decoration. He preserved the artistic message within L’Aquaiolo. The statue is one of his most celebrated works.
Dr. Ezequiel P. Paz donated L’Aquaiolo to the city. It was originally placed in Plaza San Martín. This location is between Maipú and Esmeralda streets.
The statue was removed twice for repairs. In 1988, it was moved to the Jardín Botánico for protection. A copy stands in its original place now.
Gemito created this statue in Naples after a long stay in Paris. An earlier version showed the boy wearing underwear. That version was for King Francesco II of Naples.
Gemito belonged to a group of sculptors called the Neoflorentines. They drew inspiration from the Italian Renaissance. L’Aquaiolo relates to similar works. These include “Young Fisherman Dancing Tarantella” and “Young Neapolitan Fisherman”. It also draws from ancient Roman statues. Many bronze fauns with graceful bodies were found in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
The boy’s balanced pose and provocative gesture create an obvious erotic charge. The sculptor presents a realistic street scene. It shows a lively dialogue between a fresh water seller and a thirsty customer. The boy’s nudity and the fountain’s decorated base place the scene in ancient Rome. This justifies the artist’s eroticism.
The statue captures a moment of everyday life. It elevates it to a timeless work of art. L’Aquaiolo invites us to consider themes of beauty and desire. It encourages us to reflect on the human form. It blends realism with classical ideals. It sparks conversations about art history. L’Aquaiolo remains a beloved treasure in Buenos Aires.