Bertoldino Whipping Himself to Kill Flies

Giuseppe Maria Crespi and Ludovico Mattioli

National Gallery of Art

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.