The Tame Magpie
The Met
Artist: Alessandro Magnasco(Italian, Genoa 1667–1749 Genoa)
Date: ca. 1707–8
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 25 x 29 1/2 in. (63.5 x 74.9 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, Katherine D. W. Glover Gift, 1984
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A group of figures, some with babies, among ruins, barrels, and a distant sea
Detailed Description
An outdoor scene shows numerous figures, architectural ruins, and wooden barrels under a cloudy sky. In the upper left, a large, crumbling stone archway, partially overgrown with vegetation, frames a section of the blue sky. Below it, a group of people is gathered. A woman in a light-colored dress holds a baby, while another woman in a blue and yellow garment also cradles an infant. A man in a light robe kneels nearby, and other figures are seated or lying on the ground, some with their arms raised. At the center, two large wooden barrels are stacked vertically. A dark bird with a white chest stands atop the smaller, upper barrel. Two smaller figures, possibly children, stand near the base of the larger barrel, reaching towards it. One wears a light pink tunic, and the other, with darker skin, is dressed in brown. To the right, a man in a blue jacket, white shirt, and light-colored pants sits on a low stone wall, looking towards the central group of figures. Several barrels are scattered around him. In the background on the right, a stone bridge with multiple arches spans over a body of water, revealing a distant blue sea and coastline. The sky above is a mix of light blue, white, and grey clouds. The ground is a textured mix of dirt, wooden planks, and stone, with various small objects and containers. The overall color palette features blues, browns, ochres, and muted tones for the figures' clothing.
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