Menghina Coming from the Garden Meets Cacasenno 1665 - 1747

Giuseppe Maria Crespi created this red chalk drawing, "Menghina Coming from the Garden Meets Cacasenno," at an unknown date during his lifetime in Italy. The image depicts two figures from the commedia dell’arte, a popular form of improvisational theatre. Crespi brings to life stock characters, exaggerating their costumes and physical traits. Menghina, the young woman, carries a basket, her gaze suggests a playful interaction with the viewer, while Cacasenno, the mischievous boy, seems to tug at her hand. The characters' bare feet place them in a rural setting, challenging the refined ideals of academic art. Crespi often depicted the lives of ordinary people, introducing elements of social realism into his paintings. Crespi's interest in marginalized figures can be understood in relation to the cultural and political changes in Italy during the 17th and 18th centuries. Scholars of commedia dell’arte and Italian social history could provide more insight into the work's meaning. Ultimately, the painting's impact is deeply rooted in the culture of its time.