Part of National Museums Liverpool

A Monstrous Animal and a Peasant

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Guercino, 1620 - 1630

WAG 9213

Part of

Works on paper

About this object

Guercino liked to show off his inventive imagination by drawing bizarre or fantastical creatures for his and his friends' amusement. This odd animal is part chicken and part human foot with dog ears. It is watched by a terrified peasant.

Object specifics

  • Artist(s)
    Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Guercino (Italian, born:1591-02-02 possibly, died:1666-12-22)
  • Date
    1620 - 1630
  • Materials
    Pen; Ink; Brown wash; White paper
  • Measurements
    paper: 15.1 cm x 22.2 cm
  • Physical description
    A pen and ink drawing of a rather absurd image depicting a peasant wearing a hat on the left, looking startled by a bizarre-looking creature strutting by, on the right. The creature has a foot-shaped back, chicken legs and the head has floppy ears and long mouth.
  • Related people
    William Dyce (Previous owner) ; Executors of Geoffrey Gathorne-Hardy With The Aid of A Contribution National Art Collection Fund (Previous owner) ; A E Gathorne-Hardy (Previous owner) ; Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Guercino (Artist/maker) ; Richard Heber (Previous owner) ; John Malcolm (Previous owner) ; John C Sir Robinson (Previous owner) ; William Roscoe (Previous owner) ; Spencer, George John, 2nd Earl Spencer (Previous owner)
  • Other number(s)
    WAG Inventory Number: 9213
  • Credit line
    Purchased by the Walker Art Gallery with assistance from the Art Fund in 1977.
  • Location
    Item not currently on display
  • Collection
    From the Walker Art Gallery collections

Explore related

Publications

  • The Universal Addressability of Dumb Things

    Mark Leckey

    Author: Mark Leckey
    Publisher: Hayward Publishing
    Date: 2013
    Description:

Ownership

Previous owners

  • Executors of Geoffrey Gathorne-Hardy With The Aid of A Contribution National Art Collection Fund

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: By descent
    Owned until: 1977
    Disposal method: Sold to the Walker Art Gallery in 1977

  • A E Gathorne-Hardy

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: By descent from John Malcolm through marriage
    Owned until: Unknown or unrecorded
    Disposal method: By descent to Geoffrey Gathorne-Hardy.

  • John Malcolm

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Unknown or unrecorded
    Owned until: Unknown or unrecorded
    Disposal method: By descent to A. E. Gathorne-Hardy who married a daughter of Malcolm's.

  • John C Sir Robinson

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Unknown or unrecorded
    Owned until: Unknown or unrecorded
    Disposal method: Unknown or unrecorded

  • William Dyce

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Unknown or unrecorded
    Owned until: 1865
    Disposal method: Sold at Christie's 5th May 1865, lot 206.

  • Richard Heber

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Roscoe sale, 1816
    Owned until: Unknown or unrecorded
    Disposal method: Unknown or unrecorded

  • William Roscoe

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: T. Philipe sale, 13th June 1811, lot 369
    Owned until: 1816
    Disposal method: Roscoe sale, 25th September 1816, lot 400.

  • Spencer, George John, 2nd Earl Spencer

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Unknown or unrecorded
    Owned until: 1811
    Disposal method: T. Philipe sale, 13th June 1811, lot 369.

Inscriptions

Item inscriptions

  • Inscription text: 796 / Guercino / Ld Spencer / W. Roscoe / W. Dyce R a / J.C. Robinson / MAY 5 1865
    Inscription method: Ink
    Inscription note:
    Inscription location: Back
  • Inscription text: $
    Inscription method: Stamped
    Inscription note: This collector's mark [L1530] belongs to George John, 2nd Earl Spencer [1758-1834].
    Inscription location: Front; Lower right; On plate
  • Inscription text: n m / Ld Spencer Mr. Roscoe / 40 / 400 / m g / 33 / 3-2
    Inscription method: Pencil
    Inscription note:
    Inscription location: Back
Object view = Fine Art
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