The donkey race 1823

Saverio della Gatta's watercolor painting depicts a donkey race, a spectacle steeped in ancient traditions of public games and festivals. The donkey, though seemingly humble, carries a wealth of symbolic baggage. In antiquity, the animal was associated with figures such as Silenus, the tutor of Dionysus, and the god himself, symbolizing festivity. In Christian tradition, the donkey becomes associated with humility, carrying Christ into Jerusalem. Observe how della Gatta captures the excitement and chaos of the race, a scene reminiscent of ancient Roman chariot races, yet infused with the local color of Neapolitan life. The waving flag, held aloft as a sign of victory, echoes the standards of Roman legions, now repurposed for a more lighthearted spectacle. Consider how such imagery resurfaces, transformed but still potent, revealing the enduring human desire for competition, celebration, and communal joy.