Giuseppe Maria Crespi

He would make the stories and caprices that came into his imagination. Very often also he painted common things, representing the lowest occupations, and people who, born poor, must sustain themselves in serving the requirements of wealthy citizens.Giampietro Zanotti, History of the Accademia Clementina

Born in Bologna, Giuseppe Maria Crespi (1665–1747) was one of its few real talents in that era, with a rare depth of feeling and sincerity. After a classic academic training under Domenico Maria Canuti and Carlo Cignani, who invited him to join the life drawing classes at the Accademia del Nudo, he rebelled against the rules and went his own way, even in his dress: his nickname, Lo Spagnuolo, came because he liked to wear tight fitting Spanish clothes.