Artwork
April (Taurus)
April (Taurus) is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francesco Bassano the Younger. It is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
April (Taurus) is a painting executed in oil paint by Francesco Bassano the Younger in 1601.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a rural scene with people and animals engaged in daily activities, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and mountains. A sense of industry pervades the scene, with a butchering scene in the foreground and grazing animals nearby.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro, a technique characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, is evident in the painting. A cow floats in the air, adding a touch of fantasy to the otherwise industrious scene.
History & Provenance
Francesco Bassano the Younger, son of Jacopo Bassano, created the painting as part of a family workshop tradition. The work is now part of the Museo del Prado's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bassano the Younger (Italian: Francesco Bassano il Giovane; 26 January 1549 – 4 July 1592), also called Francesco Giambattista da Ponte or Francesco da Ponte the Younger, was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period.
