The artwork, titled “Going to Market,” is attributed to the artist John Lee and dates back to the year 1860. Falling within the Romanticism movement, this piece is categorized as a genre painting, which typically depicts scenes from everyday life.
The artwork portrays a serene, pastoral scene set against a lush, verdant backdrop. In the foreground, a young girl with red hair is seated on a donkey, presumably on her way to market. She is dressed in traditional attire and is accompanied by a basket, suggesting her purpose of transporting goods. Beside her walks a young boy, also dressed in period-appropriate clothing, who appears to be guiding the donkey along their journey. The background features a rich landscape with rolling hills, dense trees, and grazing cattle, all meticulously rendered to evoke a sense of tranquility and connection to nature. The detailed and vivid coloring further enhances the Romanticism characteristic of idealizing rural life and its inherent beauty.
