A Woman with a Dog - Public domain dedication. Metropolitan Museum of Art image.

Giacomo Ceruti (1698-1767) was an Italian Baroque painter known for his realistic and naturalistic style. He was born in Milan and trained under the painter Carlo Cignani. Ceruti's works often depicted everyday life and ordinary people, such as peasants, tradesmen and street vendors. He was also skilled in portraiture and religious subjects. One of his most famous works is "The Bean Eater", which shows a peasant eating a bowl of beans. Ceruti's paintings were highly regarded during his lifetime and continue to be admired for their realism and attention to detail.