The medicine

The painting shows a blond child inside a domestic room, sitting on a large red armchair and leaning against a puffy white pillow, with a white linen nightgown and a yellow blanket on his legs. He's visibly emaciated, pale and sick, with a disconsolate gaze turned to the mother sitting next to him, in profile, who is mixing some liquid in a glass beaker. The woman wears a white kerchief with lace around the nape and a rich blue dress with lace sleeves and collar. On the left you can see a window sill and a curtain with lace. An illustrated comic is placed on the child's lap. In all probability it is the painter's eldest son, Arnaldo, portrayed with his young wife, Anna Adanti.