Artwork
Sleeping Shepherd Boy and Woman with a Child
Sleeping Shepherd Boy and Woman with a Child is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Londonio. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sleeping Shepherd Boy and Woman with a Child is an etching by Francesco Londonio, created in 1770. It is executed in etching with white heightening on blue laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a woman with a child under a tree, a sleeping shepherd with a dog, and grazing animals. The idyllic rural setting reflects Londonio's focus on pastoral themes, favored by Northern Italy's wealthy patrons.
Technique & Style
Londonio used fine lines to capture textures, such as clothing and wool, in the monochrome etching. The work's soft, decorative approach is characteristic of the late-Baroque or Rococo period.
Context
Londonio's work was influenced by his training under Ferdinando Porta, Giovanni Battista Sassi, and Benigno Bossi, as well as his travels to Rome and Naples. His genre scenes featuring peasants and animals were popular among Northern Italy's elite.
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.
