Artwork
A Pastoral Journey with a Mother and Child on Horesback and an Elderly Shepherd Seated
A Pastoral Journey with a Mother and Child on Horesback and an Elderly Shepherd Seated 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 Mother and Child on Horseback and an Elderly Shepherd Seated*, is executed as an etching in sanguine on laid paper. The work measures roughly a modest sheet size and presents a warm, brown-toned scene of a rural procession moving through a rugged, wooded landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a woman astride a horse, turned sideways, cradling a child who looks back over her shoulder. Near them, an aged shepherd rests on a rock, supported by a staff, while a flock of sheep disperses in the foreground and a dog leads ahead. The arrangement suggests a moment of travel and pastoral care within a natural setting.
Technique & Style
Zompini employed traditional copper-plate etching, drawing directly with a sanguine (red-brown) ink that yields a warm monochrome. The laid paper’s texture accentuates the sketch‑like quality of the work; lines appear loose and spontaneous, conveying immediacy rather than the finish of a polished painting. The handling of light and shadow relies on tonal variation within the sanguine medium.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the print belongs to Zompini’s broader output of genre scenes that document everyday life in the Italian countryside. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has appeared in several catalogues of 18th‑century Italian prints and is held in the collections of institutions specializing in graphic arts.
Artist & collection
