Through the Fields

Painting

-

Drexel Founding Collection

Name/Title

Through the Fields

Entry/Object ID

30

Category

Painting

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Anthony J. Drexel, Philadelphia

Notes

Date: 1893 Credit Line: Bequest of Anthony J. Drexel Means of Accession: Bequest

Made/Created

Artist

Francesco Paolo Michetti

Date made

circa 1900

Place

Country

Italy

Continent

Europe

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Signature: LR

Dimensions

Height

13-1/2 in

Width

18 in

Exhibition

Curator Pick of the Month

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Curator Pick of the Month

Label

In the spirit of the fall harvest, the Drexel Collection chose Through the Fields by Paolo Michetti. This painting depicts a group of children marching through a field of wheat and poppy in the Italian countryside. The blue garmets and accessories of the figures communicates to the viewer that these people are most likely shepherds, returning from a long day at work. Michetti was inspired by the Italian region of Abruzzo, and incorporated its people, animals, and local events into his works. Michetti learned to paint from an Italian fresco painter, and embraced modern methods of painting and the use of clear colors.

General Notes

Note

Shepherds returning from the fields. See similar paintings by Michetti, such as "Returning from the Fields". Same blue garments and jewelry. Abruzzo was his emotional and aesthetic inspiration. He captured its people, animals, and local events in emotionally charged paintings with luminous colors and vibrant light. "Francesco Paolo Michetti was a pupil of Domenico Morelli at the Naples Academy. In this painting, his treatment of the atmospheric effects is meticulous. He depicted people, animals and local events and festivals in a style that was painterly and charged." From an archived label (ES 3/5/2014)