Italian Peasant Woman, Tivoli, 19th Century, Watercolor And Pencil On Paper 29 X 21.

Roman Peasant Woman, Tivoli, 19th Century. Watercolor.

Watercolor and pencil on paper

29 x 21.5 cm

Half-length study of a young woman in traditional dress from the Roman countryside. The lower inscription “Tivoli” indicates the locality.

The figure wears a light veil resting softly on the head, with dark hair parted at the center. A dark necklace encircles the neck, typical of festive rural attire. The blouse is white and full at the shoulders; the fitted sleeves are decorated with reddish-brown floral motifs. An ivory skirt is partially covered by a deep green apron, a chromatic combination frequently associated with traditional dress of the Roman Campagna in the 19th century. The tambourine, held prominently, refers to local popular music and dance traditions often observed and recorded by traveling artists.

The composition is set against a neutral background, consistent with 19th-century albums dedicated to Italian regional “types.” The underlying drawing is clearly executed in pencil, with watercolor washes applied in transparent layers to model the face and garments with restraint.

The work belongs to a group of eight watercolors of similar dimensions depicting figures in traditional costume, including several women, a monk, and a shepherd or brigand. On one of the sheets appears a French inscription, suggesting that the series was created by a French traveling artist who visited Italy and systematically documented local types. The sheets were likely originally part of a travel album that was later disassembled.

Condition consistent with age, light natural patina to the paper.