Two Little Italian Girls by a Village

This scene shows two young girls beside a rural village under a cloudless sky and bright sunlight. The village that gives the painting its title sits in the distance. One girl, dressed in traditional clothing, stands beside a basket of oranges among rocks and greenery, her hands on her hips, looking up at her companion. The other, in blue, leans or climbs over a stone wall. Their poses and the way they face each other suggest they are talking. Waterhouse was born and raised in Rome, yet he rarely chose subjects from his surroundings; his work centred on Greek mythology and Arthurian legend, which makes this painting an unusual exception. It is most often dated to around 1875, though a date around 1889 has also been proposed. The work is now in a private collection.

Painter

John William Waterhouse

Date

1875

Medium

oil paint, canvas

Dimensions

24 × 16 cm

Movement

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

Depicts

tree, girl

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