Portrait of Leopoldo Pier d'Houy

Leopoldo Pier d'Houy (1817-1888), wealthy merchant, is the father of the renowned ophthalmologist Augusto, a doctor from the Maggiore hospital, who died young, and in memory of whom he makes a donation to the hospital. There are two versions of the portrait, both by Giovanni Beltrami: after viewing the first one, which, however, had not completely satisfied even the artist, the family asked for a second one in which the family bond between Leopoldo and Augusto appears more explicit. In the second portrait, of which this is the sketch, the father looks towards the bust that represents the son.