The imaginary Gypsy and the crystallization of the myth

Since their arrival to Europe between 14th and 15th centuries the imagery of the gypsies has been exclusive monopoly of non-gypsy artist. Depicting the gypsy from opposing perspectives although emphasizing common topics, art history has transmitted a changing and marginal image of this minority. This transpositions materialized in positive and negative stereotypes, have made their image into an recurrent aesthetic and pedagogical resource for artists. In conclusion, the aim of this work is to reconstruct the imaginary gypsy's trajectory in pictorial works of the last five centuries and reflect on the image of the gypsy as object of art.