Artwork
Peasant Woman Seated on a Donkey and a Peasant Man
Peasant Woman Seated on a Donkey and a Peasant Man is a gouache print by the Baroque artist Francesco Londonio. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Peasant Woman Seated on a Donkey and a Peasant Man is a 1753 etching by Francesco Londonio, heightened with white gouache on blue laid paper, depicting a rural scene with two figures and a donkey.
Subject & Meaning
The etching captures a serene rural moment, featuring a woman on a donkey, wearing distinctive orange attire, accompanied by a man in dark clothing leading the animal, set against a natural backdrop with trees, a rocky path, and a resting dog. The scene embodies Londonio's penchant for rustic genre themes, catering to the tastes of Northern Italian patrons.
Technique & Style
Londonio employed etching techniques, augmented by white gouache highlights, which contrast vividly against the blue laid paper, accentuating details such as the woman's hat and the donkey's saddle. The style reflects late-Baroque or Rococo influences, characteristic of his training under Milanese masters and studies in Rome and Naples.
History & Provenance
Created in 1753, the work is a product of Londonio's experience under Ferdinando Porta, Giovanni Battista Sassi, and Benigno Bossi, reflecting his travels and artistic lineage. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This piece situates itself within the 18th-century Northern Italian art scene, where pastoral and peasant themes were in vogue among patrons. Londonio's travels to Rome and Naples likely influenced his interpretation of these popular genre subjects.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of this etching are not provided, it contributes to Londonio's recognized body of work emphasizing rustic life, reflecting the artistic preferences of his time and region.
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.
