The departure of the volunteers (preparatory sketch) 1877

Gerolamo Induno created this preparatory sketch, The Departure of the Volunteers, using oil on cardboard. Induno painted this scene amidst the social and political ferment of 19th-century Italy, during the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. Here, volunteers are depicted leaving their village, presumably to join the fight for independence. A priest bestows a blessing upon them, underscoring the intertwined relationship between national identity, patriotic fervor, and religious belief. The emotional gravity of the scene is palpable. The expressions on the faces of the volunteers and their loved ones suggests a mix of excitement, pride, and anxiety. Though the women are not going to war, they are actively participating in the departure. Wreaths and embraces are offered, indicating both the recognition of their own social position and their agency within it. This painting is a snapshot of a pivotal moment in Italian history, reflecting the collective hopes and sacrifices of a nation on the brink of transformation.