A man being hit on the head by a falling flower-pot in Rome, Via del Nazzareno. Oil painting, ca. 1890.

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A votive painting, vowed presumably by the man suffering the injury from the falling flower-pot. Above him in the painting is depicted the statue of the Virgin known as the "Madonna del Parto", familiar to many Romans in the church of Sant'Agostino in Rome. In his moment of crisis he vows that if he survives this trial, he will have a picture of the scene painted, and will dedicate it to the "Madonna del Parto" by having it placed in the church near the statue. The existence of the painting is evidence that he did recover from the event
The building on the left from which the flower-pot fell is a delicatessen (salsamenteria). The fascia is inscribed "Dagnino fornitori Real Casa" (Dagnino suppliers to the Royal Household). However, the coat of arms below is not that of the Royal House of Savoy. A panel over the left window is inscribed "Gastronomia", the window itself "On parle français". In the window are joints and cuts of meat and bottles of wine or mineral water. On the outside wall a list of products: "Specialità. Galantine. Gelatine. Pâtes de Strasburg. Burro di Milano. Selvaggina. <Prosc>iutto <...> di Lucca. Vini esteri. [Vini] Toscani." Above the door: "Salsamenteria". On the right, in the Via del Nazzareno, is a dairy with a fascia lettered "Latteria"
Set at the junction of the Via del Nazzareno and of another street in Rome. The other street may be either the Via del Tritone or the Via San Andrea. The location is near the Quirinal gardens

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A man being hit on the head by a falling flower-pot in Rome, Via del Nazzareno. Oil painting, ca. 1890.

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