A Partially Skinned Rat

late 16th or early 17th century

Italian 16th/17th Century, possibly Florentine or Roman

The image depicts a creature with an elongated body, thin limbs, and a long tail. The creature is shown in profile, displaying its spine and rib cage. The head of the creature resembles a skull, with large eye sockets and an elongated snout. The artwork is done in monochrome red tones, emphasizing the creature's skeletal structure and skin folds. The style emphasizes exaggerated features and textures, highlighting the creature's eerie appearance.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    two shades of red chalk with traces of black chalk on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Joseph F. McCrindle Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 15.5 x 22.4 cm (6 1/8 x 8 13/16 in.)
    mount: 21.5 x 28.5 cm (8 7/16 x 11 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2009.70.26

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer [1758-1834], Althorp (Lugt 1531)(his sale, Thomas Philipe, London, 14 June 1811, lot 530, as Parmigianino: "A camelion [sic]--red chalk, stumped--virgorously executed). Robert Clermont Witt [1872-1952], London (Lugt 2228b). P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., Ltd., London (inv. no. A5435 on verso of mount); Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2010

  • Arcimboldo, 1526-1593: Nature and Fantasy, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Palazzo Reale, Milan, 2010-2011, brochure no. 26 (shown only in Washington).

2012

  • The McCrindle Gift: A Distinguished Collection of Drawings and Watercolors. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2012, 34-35, no. 6 (entry by Andaleeb Banta).

Inscriptions

by later hand, lower left in graphite: 21; by later hand, lower right in graphite: M. (erased); by later hand on mount, lower right in pen and black ink: An Animal by Parmegiano; by later hand on mount, lower right in graphite: 71; by later hand on mount, lower left in graphite: Colnaghi (faded); by unknown hand on mount, upper center verso in pen and brown ink: [TT?]; by unknown hand on mount, center verso in graphite: 4 / Parmeggiano; by unknown hand on mount, lower center in pencil: A5435

Wikidata ID

Q64578978

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