The farewell of the volunteer 1858

Vincenzo Cabianca's 1858 painting, "The Farewell of the Volunteer," depicts a poignant scene of departure. A young man, dressed as a volunteer soldier, bids farewell to his loved ones. His female companion, likely his wife or fiancée, clutches his arm, her face filled with sorrow. The elderly man seated in the background, possibly his father, looks on with a solemn expression, his hand raised in a gesture of blessing. The somber mood is amplified by the dimly lit interior and the soldier's heavy backpack, symbolizing the weight of his impending journey. The painting exemplifies the genre of historical realism, capturing the emotional toll of war on ordinary people.