Man and Woman from the City of Chieti, Abruzzo Citra

This work is from the Neapolitan series. The composition is known from the album Raccolta di Cinquanta Costumi li più interesanti delle città, terre e paesi in provincia diverse del Regno di Napoli (Collection of Fifty Most Interesting Picturesque Costumes from Cities, Towns and Villages of Different Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples) published in Rome in 1816. The album work was not painted as saturated and bright as the so-called Lviv version. In the foreground, one can see a man and a woman dressed in traditional festive clothing. They met on the road, and the woman touched his hand gently. She is dressed in a blue and yellow dress, a white apron with floral motifs, and a long pink skirt. On her head is a scarf with openwork edgings; on her neck is a necklace; and on her feet are bright blue shoes with yellow overlays. The young man is slightly hunched, leaning his hands on the stick. He wears a purple camisole over a yellow vest, red knee-length pants, white stockings, and black boots; on his head is a wide-brimmed hat. The meeting scene takes place on a mountain hill against the background of slopes with low trees, where one can see the top of the mountain range in the background.
Chieti is one of the oldest cities in Italy (according to the legend, it was founded by the hero Achilles in the 12th century BC). It is the capital of the province of the same name in the region of Abruzzo. It is located on a hill above the Adriatic coast.

In the lower left corner, there is the author's signature in italics – Pinelli, date – 1816, and the place of performance – Roma (illegibly). In the centre of the engraving, under the image, is the work's title: Uomo, e Donna della Città di Chieti, Abruzzo Citra. The number "30" is in the upper right corner above the plate.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery