Francesco Sasso.

FRANCESCO SASSO (Genoa, ca. 1720-Madrid, 1776).
"Double portrait of the crossbowman of the Infante Don Luis and his captain of monteros".
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 102.5 x 79 cm, 106 x 82.5 cm (frame).
This painting, "Double portrait of the crossbowman of the Infante Don Luis and his captain of monteros", presents an intimate scene and at the same time loaded with comic subtleties, framed within the genre of the costumbrista portrait of the XVIII century. The work shows two middle-aged men, dressed in gala clothes according to their positions in the court, possibly linked to the house of the Infante Don Luis de Borbón, younger brother of King Carlos III.

Both characters are represented in a dialoguing attitude: the captain of the monteros, on the right, holds in his hand a small decorated container -possibly a bottle of snuff or medicine- which he exhibits with a lively gesture to the crossbowman, located on the left, who observes the object with a critical or curious look through his bifocal glasses. The crossbowman's clothing stands out for his light blue coat adorned with elaborate golden stripes, an emblem of his court function and his military or palatine rank.

One of the most striking and anecdotal details in the composition is the presence of a small fly perched on the crossbowman's forehead. This tiny insect adds a note of humor and realism to the scene, breaking with the usual solemnity of the official portrait. Its inclusion can be interpreted as an ironic wink from the artist or as a resource to emphasize the human and everyday character of the portrayed. The fly introduces an unexpected, almost theatrical element that seems to distract the viewer's attention and invites him to contemplate the work with a more playful gaze.

Painted with remarkable attention to detail, especially in the textures of the fabrics and the faces, the work contains an acute observation of the psychology of the characters, as well as a plausible representation of the customs and social codes of the time. His style is reminiscent of the narrative compositions of eighteenth-century genre painting, in which the portrait not only immortalizes the subjects, but also inscribes them in a small visual story, full of nuances.
The pictorial characteristics and subject matter of the piece indicate that the work is very close to the painting of Francesco Sasso. Of Italian origin, Sasso trained at the Academy of Genoa, where he began teaching in 1751. Despite his facet as a teacher, it should be noted that this was late, devoting himself at first to his artistic career, initially as a stucco decorator. In 1753 he moved to Spain, where he began to work as a teacher at the Academy of San Fernando. Later, he began to work in the ornamentation of the palace of "La Granja", hired by Queen Isabel de Farnesio, who counted on his presence in several commissions, among them the pictorial training of her son, the infante Dos Luis, who later, after the death of his mother, also counted on the painter for several pictorial projects. Today he is remembered both for his ornamental works, as well as for his miniatures, which became popular among the court.