Workshop of Bartolomeo Passarotti 1528-1592. Italian School 16th.Century Pen and ink drawing. Study of a bearded figure holding a book. Drawn on laid paper laid onto mount, chamfering to corners. 10 by 27 cms.
Bartolomeo Passarotti was born at Bologna. His last name meaning 'little sparrows' (many of his works are signed with a drawing of a little bird). Training first in Bologna and later in Rome with an architect and then with Taddeo Zuccaro. Returning to Bologna around 1560 he built up in his house a cabinet of curiosities which became quite an attraction for visitors to the city. He maintained a busy workshop, as well as altarpieces, and religious subjects Passerotti produced genre scenes, mostly of butcher's shops, combining still lifes with caricature. One of his pupils was Agostino Carracci.