scuola italiana

This 18th-century Italian school painting on canvas exudes a serene and intimately rural atmosphere, which well represents the peasant world of the time. The protagonist is a man sitting in the foreground, with a wide hat with a raised brim protecting his face from the sun. His posture, slightly bent towards the basket under repair, conveys the sense of industriousness and attention typical of those who are used to performing manual tasks in the countryside. The color palette of the painting is dominated by warm earth tones, from the brown of the wicker baskets and the golden ochres of the background, creating a harmony of colors that recalls the warm light of sunset after a day of work in the fields. The slow and careful gesture with which the man weaves the wicker threads invites the observer to immerse themselves in the quiet of that domestic moment, where time seems to flow at a more peaceful pace. The background, barely hinted at with soft brushstrokes that delineate a slightly cloudy sky, helps to create a balanced scene: it doesn't distract from the main action, but gives depth and air to the whole. The grazing light, typical of eighteenth-century painting, highlights the details of the clothing and the material consistency of the basket, underlining the volume and plasticity of the character and objects. The theme of daily work elevated to a pictorial subject was very popular in 18th-century genre painting: the artist pays homage to the dignity of those who, after finishing the day in the fields, still dedicate themselves to domestic tasks with patience and care. Width cm. 45 height, cm. 25 Each painting in our Gallery is sold with a certificate of authenticity issued by an Expert of the Court and the CCIAA of Genoa.