This study in oil paint of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel relates closely to a dog in one of Paolo Veronese?s paintings. This has led to suggestions that it may be by Veronese himself. There are, however, no other oil sketches like this in Veronese?s surviving oeuvre. The attribution of this sheet to Passerotti is based on the inscription, which claims he painted it in Verona (`passarota in Verona feci[t]?). Other oil sketches on paper by Passerotti exist, and it is entirely possible that he copied this detail from one of Veronese?s compositions. Passerotti was extremely fond of dogs and frequently included them in his portraits.
Bartolomeo Passerotti (Italian (Bolognese), 1529 - 1592)
As a young artist Passerotti left Bologna to visit Rome, where he studied under the painter Taddeo Zuccaro. They shared a mutual appreciation for the antique treasures that filled the city, and both were admirers Michelangelo?s work. Passerotti was based in Bologna for most of his career and ran a busy workshop, although he maintained links with Rome. He painted a number of altarpieces and was a celebrated portraitist, enjoying the revered patronage of popes and Bolognese nobles. More recently, the few genre scenes that Passerotti produced have received recognition. These scenes of fishmongers and butchers? shops were inspired by the work of northern artists. In some of his pictures Passerotti included a sparrow as an emblematic signature, for `passerotto? means little sparrow in Italian.
