Artwork
Shepherdess in the Greek Style, Plate 4
Shepherdess in the Greek Style, Plate 4 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
Benigno Bossi’s 1771 print, titled Shepherdess in the Greek Style, Plate 4, is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The image presents a solitary female figure dressed as a pastoral shepherdess, rendered in a single sheet of printmaking. The composition is framed by a simple pedestal on which the figure stands, creating a clear, focused presentation of the subject.
Subject & Meaning
She holds a staff bound with a bundle of sticks in one hand, while the other hand rests on a circular shield encircled by a wreath.
The central figure is a young woman clad in a loose, draped garment and a tall, pointed hat adorned with hanging ribbons. She holds a staff bound with a bundle of sticks in one hand, while the other hand rests on a circular shield encircled by a wreath. Her bare feet and the rustic accessories evoke an idealized pastoral life, while the reference to “Greek style” suggests an antiquarian blend of classical motifs with rural imagery.
Technique & Style
Bossi employs fine linear incisions and delicate shading to model the folds of the dress and the textures of the staff and shield. The use of chiaroscuro—contrasting light and shadow—creates a subtle three‑dimensional effect, giving the figure a sense of volume against the flat background. The print’s crisp outlines and tonal gradations reflect the precision typical of late‑eighteenth‑century European printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1771, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). Its presence in a major American museum indicates the work’s circulation beyond Italy, where Bossi was active, and its inclusion in collections that value eighteenth‑century European prints.
Artist & collection
