Genius on a Dolphin

Sebald Beham

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts the upper half of a chubby, cherubic child sitting down. The child's head is turned slightly to the right, with its eyes closed and features such as full cheeks, a small, slightly open mouth, and short, curly hair. The child is nude, with its right hand placed on a large, dog-like head it is seated upon, and its left hand holding a long staff. There are no visible accessories besides the creature and the staff. The background consists of closely spaced, horizontal lines, creating a textured, shaded effect. In the top left corner, the date "1521" and the letters "I S P" are inscribed.