Artwork
Shepherd Playing a Flute with Goats
Shepherd Playing a Flute with Goats is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Londonio. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by later hand, lower right verso, in graphite: N. 34 / Scola 52/I (v.III)
About this work
Overview
Shepherd Playing a Flute with Goats is a 1764 print by Francesco Londonio, an Italian artist known for pastoral scenes. The work is an etching on blue paper, heightened with white.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a shepherd playing a flute amidst a flock of goats on a grassy hillside, framed by a rocky cliff and trees. The scene exemplifies Londonio's focus on rustic subjects, a genre favored by Northern Italy's wealthy patrons.
Technique & Style
Londonio used fine lines to capture the texture of the goats' wool and the terrain. The dark lines stand out against the blue paper, creating a striking contrast. The technique of etching allowed for detailed renderings of the subjects.
History & Provenance
Londonio was trained by Ferdinando Porta, Giovanni Battista Sassi, and Benigno Bossi, and traveled to Rome and Naples. His work reflects the late-Baroque and Rococo styles prevalent during his time in Milan.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Londonio (1723–1783) was an Italian painter, engraver, and scenographer, active mainly in his native Milan in a late-Baroque or Rococo style.
