Artwork
Camp Follower in the Greek Style, Plate 2
Camp Follower in the Greek Style, Plate 2 is a print by the Romanticist artist Benigno Bossi. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Camp Follower in the Greek Style, Plate 2 is a print executed by the Italian artist Benigno Bossi in 1771. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It depicts a solitary female figure burdened with a variety of domestic objects, rendered in a single‑plane drawing that emphasizes the absurdity of her load.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of classical dress with utilitarian items suggests a satirical commentary on the treatment and perception of these laboring women by soldiers.
The figure is identified as a camp follower—a woman who accompanied military troops to provide services such as cooking, laundry, and sales. She is dressed in a stylised, pseudo‑Greek costume, while her headgear is piled with pots, a broom, and a basket, and she clutches a frying pan and a fish. The juxtaposition of classical dress with utilitarian items suggests a satirical commentary on the treatment and perception of these laboring women by soldiers.
Technique & Style
Bossi employed a linear drawing technique typical of late‑Baroque printmaking, using fine hatching to model the folds of the veil and the texture of the objects. The composition is flat, with little depth, focusing attention on the crowded inventory of items. The exaggerated proportions and the serious, veiled expression of the woman enhance the work’s humorous yet critical tone.
History & Provenance
Created in 1771, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the early twentieth century, though the exact path of ownership prior to that remains undocumented. The museum’s holdings include several other prints by Bossi, situating this piece within a broader context of his satirical and genre‑focused oeuvre.
Artist & collection
