|
Jacopo Bassano's painting was commissioned in October 1548 by the patrician Antonio Zantani, a diplomat with a broad humanist education. Since portraits of various members of the Zantani family were executed in Tintoretto's workshop, he might have seen the picture in its owner's house rather than his rival's studio. Bassano was famous for his depictions of animals. According to Ridolfi, he used to place deceptively life-like vipers and other creatures painted on card among the plants in his herb garden in his native Bassano, to surprise visitors and as an advertisement for his art.
One of the hounds was copied by Tintoretto in his Christ Washing His Disciples Feet.
|
