Artwork

View on the River Roseau, Dominica

View on the River Roseau, Dominica, by Agostino Brunias, oil, 1775
View on the River Roseau, Dominica, by Agostino Brunias, oil, 1775

View on the River Roseau, Dominica is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Agostino Brunias. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. This painting depicts a lively scene along the River Roseau in Dominica, showing people engaged in various daily activities.

About this work

Overview

This painting depicts a lively scene along the River Roseau in Dominica, showing people engaged in various daily activities.

Subject & Meaning

The scene includes people of different ethnicities, such as Indigenous Carib and African individuals, interacting with one another, reflecting the complex demographics of the island under colonial rule.

History & Provenance

Agostino Brunias, the Italian-born artist, lived on Dominica and created works for the island's planter class, offering a glimpse into Caribbean life during the colonial era.

Context

Brunias's compositions often presented a sanitized view of colonial life, omitting the harsh realities of slavery, yet they also highlighted the presence and interactions of enslaved and free people of color.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Agostino Brunias

Artist

Agostino Brunias

Agostino Brunias (c. 1730 – 2 April 1796) was an Italian painter who was primarily active in the West Indies. Born in Rome around 1730, Brunias spent his early career as a painter after graduating from the Accademia di…