Artwork
A little Italian girl by a fountain
A little Italian girl by a fountain is an oil painting by Ernst Meyer. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a fleeting moment of childhood, emphasizing cultural heritage through attire rather than narrative.
The painting portrays a young girl dressed in traditional Ciociaro attire, standing near a fountain. Her clothing, jewelry, and the fountain itself serve as symbols of regional identity and innocence, reflecting 19th-century Romantic interest in national costume and pastoral ideals. The work captures a fleeting moment of childhood, emphasizing cultural heritage through attire rather than narrative.
The fountain functions as a symbolic element tied to Italian landscape and heritage, while the Ciociaro costume underscores the girl's connection to a specific Italian region, reinforcing themes of cultural authenticity and youthful purity.
Technique & Style
Ernst Meyer executed A little Italian girl by a fountain using oil paint on canvas. The painting measures 280 by 205 centimeters. Stylistically, the work focuses on a single female figure as its main subject, depicting a girl dressed in Ciociaro costume while carrying an item. The large-scale format emphasizes the detailed representation of the figure and her traditional regional attire.
History & Provenance
Ernst Meyer created A little Italian girl by a fountain in 1826. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the artwork measures 280.0 cm in height and 205.0 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
The painting A little Italian girl by a fountain is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its accession number is not specified in the sources. The work was created in 1826 and is cataloged with dimensions 280 cm by 205 cm. It has been exhibited at the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Overview
A little Italian girl by a fountain is an 1826 oil painting by Ernst Meyer, portraying a young girl in traditional Ciociaro attire beside a water feature, now part of the Statens Museum for Kunst collection.
Context
The work reflects 19th-century European interest in folk costumes and everyday scenes, particularly from Italy, often capturing the simplicity and dignity of common life.
Legacy
While specific influence or widespread recognition of 'A little Italian girl by a fountain' is not detailed, it contributes to the broader legacy of chiaroscuro techniques in oil painting and the documentation of traditional European attire through art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernst Meyer painted quiet, storytelling scenes with oil paints in the 1820s–1840s, often set in Italy.
En lille italiensk pige ved en fontæne
Figure Studies
Dragt- og bevægelsesstudie af en ung kvinde i bondedragt
Dragt- og bevægelsesstudie af en ung kvinde i bondedragt
Study of a Seated Girl
Head of a Girl
En lille pige med en krukke
En lille pige med en krukke
Meisje bij een deuropening.
Italian Peasant Boy