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Orlando Furioso

Angelica Kauffman

1850

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Rococo painting Early 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Orlando Furioso is a 1850 watercolor by Angelica Kauffman, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Angelica Kauffman
When & what style?: 1850 · Rococo painting
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolour painting depicts a scene from the epic poem Orlando Furioso. In the foreground, a woman in a red dress sits on the ground, holding a bow and arrow. To her left, a man in blue and orange sits on the ground, looking up at her. A woman in a yellow dress stands behind them, gesturing towards the seated woman. In the background, several trees and bushes are visible, with a few sheep lying on the ground. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of drama and tension, with the seated woman appearing to be in a state of heightened emotion. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye towards the central figures. For more information on the artist's use of this technique, look up Kauffman, Angelica (RA).

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolor by Angelica Kauffman depicts a scene from *Orlando Furioso* in which a shepherdess, seated with a crook beside her, carves her lover’s likeness onto a tree trunk while he turns to display his profile; a second woman observes the scene, and sheep rest nearby.

Read the full account in the museum source.