Gathering of shepherds with a horseman in the background 1727 - 1802

Francesco Casanova created this drawing of shepherds in the 18th century using pen and brown ink on paper. The choice of materials – humble pen, ink, and paper – aligns with the image's pastoral subject matter. The brown ink imbues the scene with a warm, earthy tone, reminiscent of the rural setting. The pen strokes are light and free, almost giving it the quality of a sketch. Look closely, and you can see the artist's process; the quick, sure lines that define the figures, the shading that adds volume to the forms, and the empty spaces where the paper provides the light. The work feels immediate, as if capturing a fleeting moment in the daily lives of these rural folk. In a world where art was often about grandeur and nobility, Casanova turns to the everyday. In doing so, he elevates the lives of working people, bringing their world into the realm of art, and challenging what was considered worthy of artistic representation.