88

Unità di misura: cm; Altezza: 86; Larghezza: 86

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The painting, in popular taste, is a reconstruction of the Balilla episode, executed, according to tradition, by a commoner, a professional colourist, who took part in the events. Comotto, in fact, was a member of the People's Headquarters that held command of the city during the uprising.
The figurative testimony presents the aftermath of the famous gesture of the Balilla, who, with his famous cry of incitement “Che l'inse?” (“Shall I start?”) and by being the first to throw a stone at the Austrians, led his fellow citizens to revolt.
The protagonist is to be identified with the boy in the centre of the composition, although for a long time there were those who thought it was the one on the left with the knife. The painting depicts the city of Genoa with a large crowd in revolt.