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Lot Essay
Gaetano Chierici's talent shines in the vibrant depiction of idyllic moments of rural life - episodes of 'microstoria', as Roberto Tassi rather sharply calls them: 'l'episodio nella pittura di Chierici è solo apparentemente il vero tema; esso è talmente inserito e fuso nell'ambiente, nell'atmosfera, nel tempo, nella storia minore e minima, nella condizione, da far tema con tutto questo. Anzi, se si riesce ad astrarre... l'attenzione dall'episodio... si potrà assistere a uno scambio di ruoli tra episodio e ambiente, e veder questo conquistare la preminenza, intensificare la forza poetica, allargarsi a significati più vasti' (E. Monducci and R. Tassi, Gaetano Chierici, Reggio Emilia, 1986, p. 14).
Chierici painted four further known versions of the present work, two entitled La Prediletta and two entitled L'Idillio, all from circa 1881. The artist repeated the main structure of the composition in these various versions, but experimented with certain aspects, especially the figure on the right, the cat in the foreground and the amount and distribution of accompanying animals. All of these versions were exhibited at the Palazzo Magnani, Reggio Emilia between February and March 1986 (nos. 129-132).
Chierici painted four further known versions of the present work, two entitled La Prediletta and two entitled L'Idillio, all from circa 1881. The artist repeated the main structure of the composition in these various versions, but experimented with certain aspects, especially the figure on the right, the cat in the foreground and the amount and distribution of accompanying animals. All of these versions were exhibited at the Palazzo Magnani, Reggio Emilia between February and March 1986 (nos. 129-132).