An Old Italian Garden 1927

Henry Herbert La Thangue, an English painter associated with the Newlyn School, painted ‘An Old Italian Garden’. La Thangue was known for his realist scenes of rural life, often imbued with social commentary and a sense of the everyday. In this painting, two women are captured gazing into a garden well. The women, possibly local workers, are positioned in a way that suggests a casual, unguarded moment. Their attire marks them as belonging to the working class. There is the statue of a young boy playing the flute, and a certain voyeuristic quality as we are invited to consider the silent reflection of the image in the well. La Thangue's choice to focus on these ordinary figures elevates their status, inviting viewers to find beauty and significance in their lives. This image captures a moment of quiet reflection but also hints at the social dynamics and the artist's own perspective on class and rural life in the late 19th century.