Girl with Black Dove

(Italian (Bolognese), 1665-1747
1715-30
Oil on canvas

During the 17^th century artists began painting scenes of ordinary life, or genre paintings. Crespi was among the first Italian painters show the grime and squalor of contemporary life. Here Crespi shows a young girl of modest means offering an enticement to a pet dove. Presumably, this quiet scene alludes to feminine wiles and the pleasant entrapments of love. Crespi used strong highlights and dark backgrounds (called chiaroscuro) to accentuate his intimate approach to genre.