Woman Milking a Goat c. 18th century

Curator: Here we have Francesco Londonio's "Woman Milking a Goat". Londonio was born in 1723 and died in 1783. Editor: There's a serenity to this scene. The woman seems so at peace amidst the rocky landscape and the animals. Curator: Londonio often depicted pastoral scenes. They speak to a longing for a simpler, perhaps idealized, existence, particularly during times of political and social upheaval. Editor: The goat itself is a potent symbol, often associated with abundance, but also, traditionally, with untamed nature. I wonder how those meanings play out here. Curator: It’s interesting to consider how Londonio's work was received, and how such imagery might have served various political and social functions in his time. Editor: Yes, I wonder if the image speaks to the cultural memory of simpler, rural life.