Girolamo Donnini Sold at Auction Prices

Girolamo Donnini, Erminia among the Shepherds

Donnini was a pupil of Francesco Stringa in Modena and Giovanni Gioseffo dal Sole in Bologna. Alongside religious scenes, he was also a highly gifted painter of mythological, allegorical and narrative subjects, as revealed by the present work. The meaning behind this piece only becomes evident if one if familiar with the conversation between Erminia and the shepherd in Torquato Tasso's “Jerusalem Delivered”. Fleeing from pursuers on horseback in armour stolen from the warioress Clorinda, Erminia stumbles upon a peaceful idyll. Here she meets a shepherd weaving twin baskets whilst he watches his flocks and listens to his three children singing and making music. In their conversation, he tells Erminia of his former employ as a gardener at the court of the King and of how as he there learnt of only falsehood and malice, he later decided to return home to live among his family and tend his flock. They discuss the contrasts between court and country life, pride and humility, ambition and modesty, war and peace. Inspired by this praise of the simple life, Erminia decides to stay a while with the shepherds.