Peasant on a Donkey 1778 - 1788

This is Giovanni Battista Lusieri’s delicate watercolor, *Peasant on a Donkey*, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting employs a precise linearity, evident in the clean delineation of forms, which captures the textures of the peasant’s simple garments and the donkey’s rough coat. Lusieri sets the figures against an almost ethereal white background. This compositional choice isolates his subjects, inviting us to observe the intricate details with scientific scrutiny. Lusieri’s background as a topographical artist informs his approach here. The painting embodies Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing empirical observation. The peasant's dress, combined with his humble mode of transport, places him in the lower echelons of society. Yet, Lusieri's detailed rendering prevents the image from being merely a social commentary. In the end, what stands out is the tension between objective representation and subjective interpretation. Lusieri invites us to consider how the aesthetic rendering of everyday life elevates both the artist and subject within the cultural discourse of his time.