Roman Carts
Roman Carts (Italian - Barrocci romani) is a tempera on canvas painting by Giovanni Fattori, painted during a stay in Rome, c. 1872-1873. It is now in the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, in the Palazzo Pitti, in Florence.[1]
| Roman Carts | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Giovanni Fattori |
| Year | c. 1872-1873 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 21 cm × 31 cm (8.3 in × 12 in) |
| Location | Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Florence |
Description
Made during his stay in Rome in 1873, the canvas represents an environment in which there are four exhausted and panting horses, after having work hard in a Summer's day. Of the various horses, one is sitting on the ground, another has a saddle and the last two are still pulling the barroccio, a two-wheeled vehicle used for the transport of goods. There is only one man in the scene, portrayed in the background: he is the master of the horses and he is caught while he is resting, exhausted like the beasts.
In the background there is a yellowish wall calcined by the sun, seen in transversal perspective, which schematically cuts the horizon and highlights the vastness of the space. The wall, characterized by a perfect geometry, presents a great volumetric tension and being suddenly interrupted, it restores the idea of a blocked time.
From a technical point of view, the characters, described in light and uniform tones, are volumetrically highlighted by the relationship between the drawing and the brushstrokes. The scene is shown on a very intense light and the sensation that derives from it, motionless and sad, is that of suspending life during a sultry summer day.[1][2]
References
- A. Magnani. "Barocci romani" (in Italian). Geometrie fluide.
- Roman Carta, Catalogo Beni Culturali (Italian)