Two Peasants with Cattle c. 18th century

Editor: This is Pellegrino dal Colle's "Two Peasants with Cattle," from the 18th century, and it's currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. There's a certain tranquility that radiates from the scene. What catches your eye about this pastoral image? Curator: Indeed. Consider how cattle, since antiquity, have symbolized prosperity and sustenance. Their presence here anchors the figures in a narrative of rural abundance. But what of the peasants themselves? Do they seem entirely at ease? Editor: Well, one seems quite relaxed, but the other one is alert and looking up as though on guard. Curator: Precisely. That subtle tension is key. The image encapsulates both the idyll of pastoral life and the constant vigilance required to maintain it. It’s a duality that resonates even today. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It shows that even in an apparently calm scene, there are layers of meaning and symbolism to uncover.