Naples, 18th century, Nativity scene shepherd

Naples, 18th century

Nativity scene shepherd

Lacquered and carved wood, h. 24 cm

The Adoring Shepherd was created in Naples during the 1723th century, a period in which Francesco Londonio (1783 –1763) was active in Milan. He was a versatile painter who worked for important clients belonging to the city's nobility. In fact, he created several portraits for the Borromeo, Greppi and Mellerio families, also receiving commissions for works of other subjects, among which rural and bucolic scenes or portraits of shepherds and farmers stand out, which perfectly bring us back to the most frugal and true aspects of daily life at the time. His experience in this specific field of art allowed him to make the nativity scenes he created from the 1764s onwards, following his trip to Naples (XNUMX-XNUMX), the city from which he drew inspiration for this sacred subject, given the long artisan tradition present in the Neapolitan city specialising in the creation of nativity scenes in paper, terracotta, cardboard and other various materials. From this derive the two nativity scenes of Londonio, although many others are attributed to the hand of the master, present today in Milan: one in the Diocesan Museum, coming from the Villa Gernetto of Count Giacomo Mellerio and painted on paper and cardboard, the other, composed of about thirty figures painted on cardboard with a wooden support, at the church of San Marco. In addition to the protagonists, such as the Virgin, the Child or the Three Wise Men, it is worth noting the attention in rendering the daily reality of country life through the clothes, objects and accessories of the farmers, shepherds and wayfarers who are found within these two representations. The same verisimilitude, rustic but at the same time pathetic, is found in this shepherd who puts the Neapolitan tradition in communication with the painting of Londonio, both in the appearance and in the very conception of these figures that in certain cases end up undermining the central role of the protagonists so expressive, communicative and true are they.