Carniolan Peasant Woman, Styrian Digger, Peasants of Istria and Carniola, 1842

An original antique lithograph, hand colored, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows a peasant woman in a long white head cloth, white blouse, yellow bodice, white apron, dark skirt and red stockings, holding a small basket and reaching out a hand, beside a hooded man in a long brown coat, blue trousers and high boots who rests a pick on a rock ledge and holds a short yellow handled tool in his other hand, with a great rock face behind them. The lower image shows three peasants: a woman in a broad flat hat, red scarf, dark bodice and long dark skirt; a long haired man in a wide green hat with red tassels and a feather, a red neckcloth, red waistcoat and a long green coat; and a woman in a black lace cap with red ribbons, a necklace of red beads, a blue dress, white apron and red stockings, her hand on his arm.

The top margin is lettered "Tom IV", "IMP. AUSTRIACO" and "Tav 101". Under the upper image: "Contadina Carniolese e Zappatore Stiriano" (Carniolan peasant woman and Styrian digger). Under the lower image: "Contadini d' Istria e Carniola" (Peasants of Istria and Carniola).

Carniola, Styria and Istria were provinces of the Austrian Empire. Carniola corresponds largely to central Slovenia, Styria is divided today between Austria and Slovenia, and the Istrian peninsula is shared by Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.

The green coat and red accents make this a striking plate to frame alone or with others from the Austrian lands.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.