Watermelon Sellers in Naples

The composition is from the Neapolitan series. In 1815, B. Pinelli performed the engraving Il Cocommeraro, known from the album Nuova Raccolta di 50 costumi pittoreschi… dated 1815. The "Lviv'' version of this composition has been significantly changed by the author. There is another version of this composition similar to the "Lviv'' one, which depicts more characters and is performed in a square frame (the exact year is not defined). It’s a foreground composition. A seller of watermelons is depicted at the table in the centre of the engraving; he is inviting buyers, raising up his hands with a watermelon cut in half. He is wearing a light shirt with a red vest, and long blue pants; there is a red cap on his head. His assistant is depicted at the table on the left. He is cutting the next watermelon with a large knife. He is wearing the same light shirt, red pants, and a black hat. There are watermelon buyers in front of the table, namely a young mother, who is enjoying the watermelon taste. Her child is depicted next to her; a boy is holding out his hands for the watermelon as he wants to taste it too. The woman is dressed in a traditional blue Neapolitan vest with a yellow edging, and a long crimson skirt; her head is covered with a long headscarf. The boy is wearing yellow clothing. On the right there are two more consumers of sweet berries, namely a teenage girl in a blue skirt; a red headscarf is thrown on her shoulders; she is girded with a wide yellow belt. There is a man next to her; he has a bag over his shoulder; he is wearing a hat, a blue jacket, red pants, and white stockings. He has a horn and a flask on his belt. Three rows of cut in half watermelons are displayed on the shelves to the right. A picture is hanging on an improvised gallows above them; it depicts two people rolling a huge watermelon. The composition is bright and saturated with warm colors, among which the crimson color dominates.

In the lower left corner there is the author’s signature Pinelli written in italics, date – 1817, and the place of performance – Roma (illegibly). In the center of the engraving under the image there is the work’s title Il Melonaro é Cocommeraro, in Napoli. There is a number "45" in the upper right corner above the plate.