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The image shows a cherubic child figure standing with one arm raised and the other holding a small broom-like object. The child is positioned with one foot lifted as if beginning to take a step. The face is plump with round cheeks, and short, curly hair. The child appears to be unclothed. Surrounding the child, in the background, there is a brick wall with a garment draped over it, and a few flying insects dot the air. There is also a tree with broad leaves growing nearby, and hilly terrain can be seen in the distance. The sky is depicted with soft lines indicating clouds.
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The image shows a cherubic child figure standing with one arm raised and the other holding a small broom-like object. The child is positioned with one foot lifted as if beginning to take a step. The face is plump with round cheeks, and short, curly hair. The child appears to be unclothed. Surrounding the child, in the background, there is a brick wall with a garment draped over it, and a few flying insects dot the air. There is also a tree with broad leaves growing nearby, and hilly terrain can be seen in the distance. The sky is depicted with soft lines indicating clouds.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bertoldino Whipping Himself to Kill Flies

Giuseppe Maria Crespi and Ludovico Mattioli

Date
c. 1710/1715
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 22.8 × 14.7 cm (9 × 5 13/16 in.) sheet: 31 × 19.6 cm (12 3/16 × 7 11/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2020.43.12
Credit line
William B. O'Neal Fund
Time span
1701 to 1725
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record

Portfolio and series

Series
Bertoldo, Bertoldino, e Cacasenno (plate 12)
Provenance

(Enrico Cortona, Milan); purchased 2020 by NGA.

Watermarks

W d encircled with three-leaf clover shape beneath

NGA object ID 220493. 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.