Landscape with Shepherds

This pair of large landscapes was created during Magnasco's most prosperous years, his second Milanese period of 1718-1725. The dark, but rich color palette, swirling brush strokes, and tall and slender figures crouching half hidden in shadows all contribute to the extremely dramatic, illusionary feel of Magnasco's painted world. Here Magnasco shows the beauty and power of nature in juxtaposition with the small powerless existence of mankind, battling valiantly in the face of nature. The impressionist touch of his brush strokes continued in the works of such 18th century Venetian painters as Guardi. (Source: Masterpieces of the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 2009, cat. no.47)