Artwork
Sleeping Shepherd Tickled by a Shepherdess
Sleeping Shepherd Tickled by a Shepherdess is an ink print by the Baroque artist Giuseppe Maria Crespi. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sleeping Shepherd Tickled by a Shepherdess is an etching on laid paper created by Giuseppe Maria Crespi, a late Baroque artist from the Bolognese School, around 1736. It is a print that showcases the artist's skill in capturing everyday life scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a serene outdoor scene where a shepherdess playfully tickles a sleeping shepherd. A dog lies nearby, and the background features rolling hills and a calm sky, evoking a sense of tranquility and rustic charm.
Technique & Style
Crespi employed fine lines to render the soft folds of the shepherd's clothing and the gentle movement of the shepherdess's gesture, exemplifying the detailed linework characteristic of etching.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, created during a period when Crespi was broadening his artistic focus beyond traditional subjects.
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.
