Italian school; XVIII century.

Italian school; XVIII century.
"Landscape."
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 43.5 x 66 cm; 68 x 90 cm (frame).
The paintings of pastoral theme like the one we are dealing with reached special popularity in the XVIII century for their mixture of bucolic idealization and natural landscape, since it is appreciated in them a praiseworthy effort in capturing the light and the foliage in a trustworthy way. This genre, developed as part of Rococo, often celebrated rural life with touches of refinement and romantic charm. The figures, though endearing in their treatment, lose prominence to the magnificence of the landscape. Authors such as Marco Ricci and Francesco Zuccarelli excelled in this genre, and their influence can be seen in our painting.
The landscape allowed the viewer to enjoy idealized natural scenes, evoking tranquility and beauty in intimate spaces. This type of work was often inspired by the Dutch and Flemish landscape tradition of the 17th century, with scenes that not only captured nature, but also conveyed moods through the use of color and light. Moreover, in a world where the Grand Tour became popular among the European aristocracy, these landscapes could serve as reminders of places visited or as ideal images of a pastoral and ordered world.