Who painted Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda?

Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda was painted by Josep Lluis Pellicer in 1869.

Where can I see Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda?

Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda is held by Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

What movement is Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda?

Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda is associated with Realism.

Artwork

Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda

Josep Lluis Pellicer , 1869

Zitto. Silenzio, che passa la ronda is an oil painting by the Realist artist Josep Lluis Pellicer. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Josep Lluís Pellicer’s oil on canvas, dated 1869, is part of the collection of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.

About this work

Overview

Josep Lluís Pellicer’s oil on canvas, dated 1869, is part of the collection of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. The work presents a nocturnal street scene in which a line of figures moves through a dimly lit urban environment, their forms rendered in muted, shadowy tones.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a procession of individuals clothed in dark garments and hats, some bearing staffs, suggesting a night‑time patrol or ceremonial march. The quiet, almost still atmosphere invites contemplation of the routine and anonymity of such nightly duties.

Technique & Style

Pellicer employs a restrained palette dominated by deep grays and blacks, using chiaroscuro to accentuate the contrast between illuminated silhouettes and the surrounding darkness. The handling of light creates a sense of depth, while the broad, simplified shapes emphasize the overall mood of somber stillness.

History & Provenance

Created in 1869, the painting entered the holdings of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing 19th‑century Catalan artists.

Context

The work belongs to a period in which Pellicer, like many of his contemporaries, explored urban night scenes, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow to convey atmosphere. Such subjects were common in mid‑19th‑century European painting, reflecting growing interest in the modern city’s nocturnal life.