Seated Shepherd and a Peasant Woman with a Basket 1759 - 1782

Francesco Londonio made this print, "Seated Shepherd and a Peasant Woman with a Basket," sometime in the 18th century. Londonio was from Italy, but he was also associated with artistic circles in other parts of Europe. This image presents a romanticized view of rural life, a popular theme during this period, but we should consider the social conditions that shaped Londonio's artistic production. Was he from the area, or did he visit it? What type of person was he? Did he really understand the kind of life the people in the print had? To truly understand the art, we would need to research the social and economic conditions in Italy at the time. Who was buying his art? What were their expectations? And how might those expectations have influenced the way he portrayed rural life?