The Duomo in Milan from a Side Street

About this work

This street scene shows a busy European city corner with old stone buildings. People in long dresses and hats walk down the cobblestone street, some carrying baskets. A horse-drawn cart sits near a shop with green shutters, and a lamppost stands in the middle of the road. In the background, a huge, pointy cathedral rises above the rooftops, its spires reaching into a bright blue sky. The artist used loose, sketchy strokes to show light bouncing off the buildings. The cathedral’s details fade into the sky, making it look almost dreamy. This style was common in the 1800s when artists focused on mood over perfect lines. Look up Romanticism to see how this painting fits into that artistic movement.