Portrait of the King’s hunting companion, Domenico Salerno, with dogs

This painting shows Domenico Salerno, hunting companion of King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon with hares, pheasants, partridges, mallards and other small birds at his feet. The dogs, which are the main protagonists of the scene, are painted with realism.
It is the work of the Moldavian artist Martin Ferdinand Quadal, renowned portraitist and naturalist. His journey to London, where he painted the English nobility in the style of Sir Joshua Reynolds, is clearly reflected in this work. A tireless traveller, he also stayed in Naples from 1782 to 1786.