Artwork
Bertoldino Fastening Geese to His Belt
Bertoldino Fastening Geese to His Belt is an ink print by the Baroque artist Giuseppe Maria Crespi. It dates from 1712 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bertoldino Fastening Geese to His Belt is an etching on laid paper created by Giuseppe Maria Crespi around 1712. The print is a representative work of Crespi, a late Baroque artist associated with the Bolognese School.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a comical scene of a man, identified as Bertoldino, tying geese to his belt while a woman observes. The narrative likely originates from popular storytelling traditions, possibly referencing a tale where the character attempts to fly with the geese.
Technique & Style
Crespi employed fine lines to convey texture and detail, evident in the rendering of fabric folds and the geese's feathers. The use of black and white creates a stark, expressive image that emphasizes the anecdotal nature of the scene.
Context
The work was produced during a period when genre painting and scenes of everyday life were gaining prominence in Italian art, a trend that Crespi's oeuvre reflects alongside his religious and portrait works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giuseppe Maria Crespi (14 March 1665 – 16 July 1747), nicknamed Lo Spagnuolo ('The Spaniard'), was an Italian late Baroque painter of the Bolognese School.
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Bertoldino Falling into a Fish Pond
Bertoldino Cutting Off the Donkey's Ears
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