Portrait of a Whitaker Family Girl with a King Charles Spaniel – Giuseppe Patania, 1845

Portrait of a Whitaker Family Girl with a King Charles Spaniel – Giuseppe Patania, 1845

Date: 1845
Artist: Giuseppe Patania (1798-1852)
Pictorial School: Sicilian, 19th century
Frame: Gilded wood frame, Empire style, contemporary to the painting
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions without frame: L 118 cm x H 91 cm
Dimensions with frame: H 77 cm x L 105 cm
Signature and date: Signed lower right “G. Patania,” dated 1845

The painting is in excellent condition, with no visible signs of oxidation or heavy restoration. The colors remain vivid, and the canvas maintains its original tension. The gilded frame, though showing normal signs of wear, is stable and complete.

This painting by Giuseppe Patania depicts a young girl seated on a leopard skin, accompanied by a King Charles Spaniel. The background features a coastal landscape with a gulf and promontory, likely representing the Gulf of Palermo, with a small village visible in the distance. The girl, dressed in a soft pink gown, gazes serenely at the viewer, while the dog affectionately rests a paw on her shoulder.

The delicate portrayal of the girl and the refined details of her attire give the work an emotive character. The leopard skin beneath her adds an element of luxury and hints at the elevated social status of the family.

Giuseppe Patania, a renowned Sicilian portraitist, was highly sought after by the bourgeois and noble families of Palermo. This work exemplifies his ability to combine naturalism with a sentimental approach, particularly in his portraits of children. The presence of the dog, symbolizing loyalty and affection, further enhances the emotional dimension of the composition.

The landscape in the background, with its gulf and promontory, may refer to locations familiar to the Whitaker family, who owned vast estates in the Palermo area.

The girl depicted is identified as a daughter of the Whitaker family, English entrepreneurs who settled in Palermo in the 19th century and became famous for their production of Marsala wine. The Whitakers played a significant role in Sicilian history, and their legacy is preserved today by the Whitaker Foundation, which manages Villa Malfitano and the island of Mozia.

This painting serves as a testament to the refined status of the Whitaker family and their connections to both Sicilian and English aristocracy.