Artwork
Bertoldo Stuffed in a Sack
Bertoldo Stuffed in a Sack 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
Bertoldo Stuffed in a Sack is an etching on laid paper created by Giuseppe Maria Crespi, an Italian late Baroque artist, around 1712. It belongs to a series of prints focusing on humorous and satirical everyday life scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a comedic scene in a dimly lit, shadowy room where one man, dressed in a hooded cloak, is bundled in a sack and struggling, while another man supports or adjusts him. The image suggests a jest or prank, possibly with the sack's occupant pretending to be trapped.
Technique & Style
Crespi employed sharp lines in the etching to convey movement and tension. The technique allowed for detailed shadowing, enhancing the dramatic effect of the fading light in the rough-walled room.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1712 by Giuseppe Maria Crespi (known as Lo Spagnuolo), a versatile artist of the Bolognese School, known for religious, portrait, and genre works.
Context
Part of a broader series by Crespi, this work reflects the artist's interest in capturing the humor and satire found in everyday life, a theme less common in the religiously dominated late Baroque period.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of *Bertoldo Stuffed in a Sack* are not provided, it contributes to Crespi's reputation for diverse thematic exploration in late Baroque art.
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.
