Two ladies and a gentleman strolling through a classical architectural landscape 1878

Filippo Indoni painted this oil on canvas, "Two ladies and a gentleman strolling through a classical architectural landscape", sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Indoni, working in Italy, provides us a glimpse into the leisure activities of the upper class. We see a gentleman, adorned in a blue suit with gold detailing, seated on stone steps, while two women in elaborate dresses stand nearby, one holding a parasol. The classical architecture and lush greenery suggest a setting of cultivated leisure. But what narratives are not immediately visible? What does it mean to be a woman in the Italian upper class? How were the lives of these subjects shaped by gender expectations, and how does the painting reflect or challenge those expectations? Who are the unseen laborers propping up the leisure of these subjects? While visually appealing, the painting invites us to consider the complexities of identity and social structures within the historical context it represents.