Giacomo Ceruti, nicknamed "Pitocchetto" (the little beggar), is still an enigmatic personality. His fame is based on his numerous portraits and genre pieces. As his sobriety suggests, these often depict figures from the lower classes and seem to have enjoyed widespread popularity among amateurs throughout northern Italy. This painting is typical of both the social class of the subject, probably a maid carrying her mistress's dog, and the direct, non-idealized presentation.
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