Artwork

Herdsman Crossing a River

Herdsman Crossing a River, by Francesco Casanova, chalk, 1768
Herdsman Crossing a River, by Francesco Casanova, chalk, 1768

Herdsman Crossing a River is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Francesco Casanova. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Herdsman Crossing a River is a drawing by Francesco Casanova, created in 1768. It is executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a tranquil scene of a herdsman guiding his flock across a river, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and trees under a cloudy sky. The herdsman's traditional attire adds to the rustic atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Casanova's use of layered drawing techniques, combining pen, brown ink, and brown wash over black chalk, achieves a sense of depth and texture. The interplay of light and shadow contributes to the drawing's realism.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.