Le Loup d’Aggubio 1877

"Le Loup d’Aggubio", a painting by Luc-Oliver Merson, depicts a scene from the legend of the wolf of Gubbio, a historical account of a wolf terrorizing the Italian town of Gubbio, which was eventually tamed by Saint Francis of Assisi. The 1877 painting showcases a woman and a child walking through a snowy town square, seemingly oblivious to the wolf lurking by the butcher shop. The scene is brimming with life and details, including a well in the square with people gathering around it and pigeons scattered in the snow. Merson's painting captures the essence of a historical legend, offering a glimpse into a time when harmony between humans and animals was an ideal pursued by the powerful, a story still told and retold today.