Artwork
Chorus of Shepherds: Carino, Montano and Mirtillo
Chorus of Shepherds: Carino, Montano and Mirtillo is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Johann Wilhelm Baur. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:across bottom in brown ink: 36 Carino montano Mirtillo. Coro d Pastori
About this work
Overview
Chorus of Shepherds: Carino, Montano and Mirtillo is a 1640 drawing by Johann Wilhelm Baur, executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper. The work depicts a musical scene of three shepherds from the Italian pastoral play Il pastor fido.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing illustrates Carino, Montano, and Mirtillo, characters from Il pastor fido, engaged in a chorus. One plays a lute, another holds a book (possibly the play's text), and the third accompanies with claps, conveying a moment of harmonious performance.
Technique & Style
Baur employed precise pen and brown ink lines, enhanced with brown wash, to achieve depth and texture. Intricate cross-hatching shades the figures' robes and faces, while crisp, lace-like lines define the composition. Soft, nuanced lighting highlights the shepherds' hands and faces.
History & Provenance
Created in 1640, this drawing reflects Baur's broader interest in illustrating classical literary themes, as also seen in his work on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Current location is not specified in provided sources.
Context
This work sits within Baur's practice of engaging with classical and literary subjects through graphic art, common among 17th-century European artists who often illustrated renowned texts.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of this piece are not provided, it contributes to Baur's recognized body of work, with similar pieces found in collections like the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Wilhelm Baur, Joan Guiliam Bouwer, or Bauer (Strasbourg, 31 May 1607 - Vienna, 1 January 1640) was a German engraver, etcher and miniature painter. He is famous for a series of illustrations of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
