Artwork
A Pastoral Journey with a Child in a Basket on Horseback
A Pastoral Journey with a Child in a Basket on Horseback is an ink print by the Baroque artist Gaetano Zompini. It dates from 1758 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Gaetano Zompini’s 1758 print, titled *A Pastoral Journey with a Child in a Basket on Horseback*, depicts a rural procession. A woman rides a horse while cradling a basket that holds a child. Behind them a flock of sheep trails, and a second woman walks alongside, leading a dog. The landscape is rendered with trees and gentle hills in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a bucolic scene of everyday life, emphasizing the interdependence of human and animal labor in an agrarian setting. The presence of the child in a basket suggests familial care during travel, while the shepherdess and her dog reinforce themes of guidance and protection within the pastoral environment.
Technique & Style
Zompini employed a sanguine etching on laid paper, a method that uses a reddish‑brown ink to produce warm tonal variations. The technique allows fine line work and subtle shading, characteristic of mid‑18th‑century prints that sought both detail and expressive atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1758, the work belongs to Zompini’s broader output of genre scenes that documented Venetian life. While specific ownership records are scarce, the print has been cited in catalogues of 18th‑century Italian etchings and is held in several public collections devoted to printmaking.
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