Landscape with Hermit, Pilgrim and Peasant Woman 1690 - 1740

Antonio Francesco Peruzzini painted this landscape with oil on canvas sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It's a view of the Italian countryside, dotted with figures and ruins that point to larger themes of piety and the passage of time. The landscape is populated by figures from different walks of life. We see a hermit, a pilgrim, and a peasant woman. These figures, each representing a different social class and spiritual path, are brought together by the landscape itself. The ruined tower is being repaired, perhaps speaking to the institutions of the time being rebuilt. Meanwhile, the classical temple in the background suggests a longing for the past. To better understand this painting, we can consult a range of historical sources, from travelogues to religious tracts to economic data. This will give us a deeper understanding of the social and institutional context in which Peruzzini was working. Only then can we begin to appreciate the full richness and complexity of this evocative landscape.