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The image depicts a creature with an elongated body, thin limbs, and a long tail. The creature is shown in profile, displaying its spine and rib cage. The head of the creature resembles a skull, with large eye sockets and an elongated snout. The artwork is done in monochrome red tones, emphasizing the creature's skeletal structure and skin folds. The style emphasizes exaggerated features and textures, highlighting the creature's eerie appearance.
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The image depicts a creature with an elongated body, thin limbs, and a long tail. The creature is shown in profile, displaying its spine and rib cage. The head of the creature resembles a skull, with large eye sockets and an elongated snout. The artwork is done in monochrome red tones, emphasizing the creature's skeletal structure and skin folds. The style emphasizes exaggerated features and textures, highlighting the creature's eerie appearance.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Partially Skinned Rat

Italian 16th/17th Century, possibly Florentine or Roman

Date
late 16th or early 17th century
Medium
two shades of red chalk with traces of black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 15.5 x 22.4 cm (6 1/8 x 8 13/16 in.) mount: 21.5 x 28.5 cm (8 7/16 x 11 1/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2009.70.26
Credit line
Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Florentine
  • Roman
  • animal
  • Anatomy
Provenance

George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer [1758-1834], Althorp (Lugt 1531)(his sale, Thomas Philipe, London, 14 June 1811, lot 530, as Parmigianino: "A camelion [sic]--red chalk, stumped--virgorously executed). Robert Clermont Witt [1872-1952], London (Lugt 2228b). P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., Ltd., London (inv. no. A5435 on verso of mount); Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.

Inscription

by later hand, lower left in graphite: 21; by later hand, lower right in graphite: M. (erased); by later hand on mount, lower right in pen and black ink: An Animal by Parmegiano; by later hand on mount, lower right in graphite: 71; by later hand on mount, lower left in graphite: Colnaghi (faded); by unknown hand on mount, upper center verso in pen and brown ink: [TT?]; by unknown hand on mount, center verso in graphite: 4 / Parmeggiano; by unknown hand on mount, lower center in pencil: A5435

NGA object ID 143819. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.