Italian Peasant Girl with Coral Necklace and Man with Ciocie Shoes, 19th Cent. 63,5*52cm

Italian Peasant Girl with Coral Necklace and Man with Ciocie Shoes, 19th Cent

Date: 
Mid XIX century

Technique: Oil on canvas.

School: foreign painter active in Italy.

Dimensions:
With frame: 63.5 cm x 52 cm
Without frame: 61,5 cm x 50 cm

Gilded wooden frame

This painting depicts two figures—a blind man and a woman guiding him along a rural path. The blind man, leaning on a walking stick, is dressed in simple clothing: a wide-brimmed hat, red trousers, and an open shirt. He carries a sack on his shoulders, symbolizing his status as a wanderer or traveler. The woman beside him, perhaps his guide or companion, gently leads him by the hand, her gesture full of care as she helps him navigate.

The background shows a pastoral landscape with trees and soft clouds, emphasizing the contrast between the natural beauty that the blind man cannot see and his internal world. The woman, dressed in a light gown with a brown apron and red sash, represents light and hope, acting as both a physical and possibly a spiritual guide for the man.

Technique: Oil on canvas
This rural scene depicts a young Italian peasant woman wearing a coral necklace, a symbol of protection and prosperity, standing beside a man dressed in traditional attire, wearing ciocie shoes, the characteristic folded leather shoes typical of the Ciociaria region in central Italy. The painting reflects an idealized view of 19th-century peasant life, a theme that was often explored by foreign artists active in Italy during that period. The composition is bathed in light, highlighting the harmony and simplicity of rural Italian life.

Frame: The painting is enclosed in a rectangular frame with rounded corners, original to the period, complementing the scene without detracting from its focus.

Condition: In good condition, with well-preserved colors and a light patina that enhances the historical charm of the piece.

Work of a foreign artist active in Italy in the 19th century, drawn to the traditions and culture of rural Italy.