Artwork
Woman Spinning Yarn by an Arch
Woman Spinning Yarn by an Arch is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Londonio. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Woman Spinning Yarn by an Arch is a 1764 etching by Francesco Londonio, a Milanese artist trained in late-Baroque and Rococo styles. The print is executed on blue paper with white highlights.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a serene scene of a woman spinning yarn near a stone archway, surrounded by sheep and a goat. The quiet moment of domestic labor is set against a backdrop of a crumbling stone wall and bushes.
Technique & Style
Londonio employed etching to create detailed textures, combining lines and shading to achieve a nuanced representation. The use of white highlights on blue paper adds depth to the image.
History & Provenance
Londonio's artistic approach was influenced by his studies in Rome and Naples, as well as his training under Ferdinando Porta and Giovanni Battista Sassi. His work catered to the genre themes favored by wealthy patrons in Northern Italy.
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.
