The Nannys 

Giuseppe de Nittis captured this scene with oil on wood. Note the visual prominence of the figures in white. Traditionally, white symbolizes purity and innocence, often linked to youth and virtue. Throughout art history, white garments have denoted sacredness. Think of the vestal virgins of antiquity, or Renaissance depictions of the Virgin Mary. Here, the visual weight of white draws us to the children, particularly the central one cloaked entirely in white. This could be a deliberate play on these established symbols, imbuing the children with an aura of innocence. The artist uses this color to engage our collective memory. By placing white so centrally, de Nittis subtly invites viewers to consider the cultural and emotional associations we project onto these figures, thus highlighting the power of symbols. They are cyclical, progressing and evolving.