Title: Neapolitan Pilgrims Etching - 1819 Pinelli & Bridgens Print
Description: This evocative 1819 etching, titled "Pilgrims, Costumes of Naples," captures a poignant moment of devotion in 19th-century Naples, masterfully illustrated by Italian artist Bartolomeo Pinelli with contributions from British artist Richard Bridgens. The scene centers on a group of pilgrims gathered around a roadside shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as indicated by the Italian inscriptions like "Vergine di Maria Pregate Gesu per Me" (Virgin Mary, Pray to Jesus for Me). The pilgrims, dressed in traditional Neapolitan attire, embody the region’s deep Catholic faith. A figure in a red robe stands solemnly with a staff, while another in a blue cloak kneels in prayer, joined by children who add a sense of familial unity. The shrine features a framed image of the Virgin and Child, adorned with symbolic elements like a cross and a depiction of souls in purgatory, reflecting the spiritual fervor of the time.
Bartolomeo Pinelli (1781–1835), born in Rome, was renowned for his detailed etchings of Italian...
Category
Antique 1810s Prints