Francesco Londonio

FRANCESCO LONDONIO (Milan, 1723–1783).
“Study of Animals.”
Oil on panel.
Measurements: 22.5 x 32 cm; 39 x 48 cm (frame).
This captivating study of animals is a magnificent example of Francesco Londonio’s interest in depicting rural life and the peasant world, one of the most characteristic themes of his work. The grouping of goats, cows, and a donkey reveals his unique sensitivity toward the animal world and his ability to capture the individual characteristics of each species. Far from being a merely decorative depiction, the work reflects the artist’s interest in the anatomical differences, postures, and volumes of each animal, seeking to reproduce their physical presence naturally.
One of the most interesting aspects of this piece is its connection to the extensive repertoire of studies that Londonio developed throughout his career. The artist used drawings and small studies painted from life as preparatory material for his later pastoral compositions and peasant scenes. In this sense, the panel holds particular interest, as it offers insight into a painter’s creative process. The work finds a particularly significant parallel in the animal studies preserved at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, which houses an important collection of Londonio’s drawings and oil sketches. Among them, a study of goat heads stands out. It is also interesting to compare it with his pastoral-themed prints, such as *Two Shepherds with a Cow and Calf* and *Seated Shepherd with Horse, Dog, Goats, and Sheep*, held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Francesco Londonio trained in Milan under Ferdinando Porta and Giovanni Battista Sassi, and broadened his knowledge during his travels to Rome and Naples, where he became acquainted with the Italian and Central European traditions of landscape and animal painting. He later studied printmaking with Benigno Bossi, producing a significant body of prints dedicated to rural life. He achieved notable recognition among the Milanese aristocracy, who sought out his paintings and studies for private collections. Among his major artistic bodies of work are his pastoral-themed paintings preserved at the Pinacoteca di Brera and his numerous drawings and studies at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan. His work is also represented at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.