Passerotti, Bartolomeo, an Italian painter, was born about 1540 at Bologna. He studied under Taddeo Zuccara at Rome, and is mentioned by Vasari as one of the assistants of that master. He is also commended by Borghini and Lomazzo. Passerotti resided in the early part of his life at Rome, where he executed some works for the churches, the most esteemed of which is the Martyrdom of St. Paul. On his return to Bologna he painted many altar-pieces for the churches, the most celebrated of which are, the Adoration of the Magi, in St. Pietro; the Annunciation, in St. Martino Maggiore; The Virgin on a Throne, surrounded by St. John the Baptist and other Saints, in St. Giacoino Maggiore, which last work was avowedly painted in competition with the Caracci, and elicited their praise. Tlie ex- quisite degree of diligence and refinement which Pas- serotti displayed in this work he rarely used ; but he generally painted in a bold, free style, with remarkable facility of execution. He also excelled in portraits,
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and in tbis branch Guido ranked liim next to Titian, prefurrinij him before tlie Caracci themselves. He opened a school at Bologna, wliich was attended by man}' distinguished masters. Lanzi says " he was the first at Bologna to make a grander display, and began to vary Scripture histories by drawing from the naked torsi." Passerotti possessed remarkable skill in design- ing with his pen, a gift which drew to his school Agos- tino Caracci. He also wrote a book, from which he taught the symmetry and anatomy of the human body essential to the artist. His pictures are distinguished by a sparrow, in allusion to his name — a custom derived from the ancients, and practiced by many modern art- ists. Zani describes Passerotti as a designer and en- graver. He says, also, that he is called // Mu'stro ul Pussera (the Master of the Sparrow), from his having used a sparrow between the letters B. and P. as his re- bus, but this is not mentioned by any other writer. Bartsch commends Passerotti highh' for his ability as a designer, and for the freedom and boldness of his manner of engraving. He enumerates and describes fifteen prints by him, also two mentioned by Gori and Rost, and one doubtful; but he does not consider the catalogue complete. He says that Passerotti's prints have at all times been sought for by artists and con- noisseurs, and that they have become extremely scarce, the richest collections possessing one or two at most. We append a list of Passerotti's etchings, as given by Bartsch {Feint re-Graveur, tom. xviii) : The Chastity of Joseph, after Parmiggiano : — The Visitation, after F. Salviati: — The Vin/in, with the Infant and St. John ; marked P. F. : — a similar subject, with the letters B. P. : — The Virrjin, sitting on the ground, with the infant Jesus on her knees ; signed B. Pasarot. : — Jesus Christ koldinff a Banner ; signed B. Pasarot. This and the five following are supposed to be part of a suite of thir- teen, representing Christ and his Apostles; — iS7. Peter; the letters B. P. on the left at bottom: — St. Andreic ; signed B. Pasarot. at bottom : — iSt. John the Ecangelist ; ditto : — St. Burthulomew ; ditto : — St. Paul; the letters B. P. on the right at bottom : — Relic/ion, represented by a woman seated, and surrounded by the sun; the letter B. on the right at bottom : — Painting, represented by a young female with wings; the letters B. P. on the right at bottom: — The Young Woman in Bed; B. Passarot. written backwards, the letter B. reversed and joined to the P. : — The Sacrifice, in which there are eight figures; the letters B. P. on the left at bottom : — The Charity, mentioned by Gori: — The Marriage of Isaac and Re- becca, after Perugino ; mentioned by Rost : — A Holy Family, doubtful : — St. Peter delivei-ed from Prison by an Angel. St. Peter is seated, and the angel, without wings, has placed the left hand on Peter's shoulder, and directs the way with the right; at the bottom, in the corner, are the letters B. P. See Spooner, Biog. Hist, of the Fine Arts, ii, G(]], GG2.
Passerotti, Tibuizio, an Italian painter, son of the preceding, was born at Bologna in 1575. He was in- structed by his father, whose manner he adopted, though he wrought with a less bold, free, and rajiid pencil. He executed some works for the churches, which were ad- mired for their beautiful composition, and which Lanzi says possess real merit. The principal are. The A ssinnp- tion, in S. !Maria Mascarella ; The Virgin, with St. Francis and St. Jerome, in S. (Jecilia; The Annunciation, in S. Christina; and The Martyrdom of St.Catharina, in S. Giacomo Maggiore, which last is his most celebrated performance. He was also an excellent portrait-painter. He died in the prime of life in 1612. See Spooner, Biog. Hist, if the Fine Arts, ii, CG2.
Passignano, Domknico da. or Do.Miisiro CiiKsn, Cavaliere, an Italian painter of note, was born at Flor- ence about the middle of the lOlh century. Some ac- counts give 15G0. but this is probably too late ; Baglione says he was eighty years old when he died in UJ.'J.s, which would place his birth in 1557 or 1558. He was