Artwork
Two market women and a boy with chicken and vegetables
Two market women and a boy with chicken and vegetables is a paint painting by the Mannerist artist Bartolomeo Passarotti. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1590, this oil painting by Bartolomeo Passarotti portrays a bustling market scene in which two women and a young boy are surrounded by poultry and an abundance of vegetables. The figures are rendered against a darkened backdrop, allowing the vivid hues of clothing and produce to dominate the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is a domestic exchange: the left-hand woman cradles a black‑and‑white chicken, while the right-hand woman supports a child reaching toward a large vegetable. The assortment of pumpkins, squash, onions and other produce suggests a moment of daily commerce, emphasizing the material realities of 16th‑century urban life.
Technique & Style
Passarotti employs a mannerist vocabulary, with slightly elongated forms and a stylized arrangement that heightens the scene’s theatricality. Strong chiaroscuro models the figures, creating depth and a tactile sense of texture on the fabrics, feathers and vegetable skins.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on view. Its attribution to Passarotti, a leading Bolognese painter known for genre scenes, has been consistently accepted by scholars since the late nineteenth century.
Context
During the late Renaissance, Bolognese artists like Passarotti turned to genre subjects, moving beyond religious narratives to depict ordinary market activities. This shift reflects broader cultural interests in realism and the everyday experiences of the emerging middle class.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomeo Passarotti or Passerotti (1529–1592) was an Italian painter of the mannerist period, who worked mainly in his native Bologna. His family name is also spelled Passerotti or Passarotto.
