Artwork
Donkey with her Foal, a Dog, and a Peasant Man
Donkey with her Foal, a Dog, and a Peasant Man is a gouache print by the Baroque artist Francesco Londonio. It dates from 1762 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1762, this print depicts a modest rural tableau: a donkey and its foal occupy the foreground, accompanied by a small dog and a solitary peasant figure. Executed on blue laid paper, the composition balances the animals’ gentle interaction with the quiet presence of the human observer, offering a snapshot of everyday pastoral life in 18th‑century northern Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on the bond between the donkey and its young, emphasizing nurturing and continuity within a simple agrarian setting. The dog, positioned slightly behind, adds a note of domestic companionship, while the peasant man, rendered in subdued tones, functions as a silent witness, underscoring the harmony between humans and livestock in a countryside routine.
Technique & Style
Londonio employed a traditional etching process, incising lines into a copper plate before printing onto blue laid paper.
Londonio employed a traditional etching process, incising lines into a copper plate before printing onto blue laid paper. After the initial print, he applied white gouache highlights to accentuate the animals’ forms and the paper’s cool background, creating a subtle contrast that enhances depth. The style reflects late‑Baroque sensibilities merged with Rococo’s delicate detailing, typical of his genre scenes.
History & Provenance
The artist, Francesco Londonio, was active in Milan, where he trained under Ferdinando Porta and Giovanni Battista Sassi before studying engraving with Benigno Bossi. His travels to Rome and Naples broadened his exposure to varied artistic circles. This particular print, aimed at Northern Italian patrons who favored rustic genre subjects, exemplifies his reputation for portraying everyday rural life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Londonio (1723–1783) was an Italian painter, engraver, and scenographer, active mainly in his native Milan in a late-Baroque or Rococo style.
