Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione called Il Grechetto Genoa 1609 - 1664 Mantua

This is a subject which Castiglione treated many times, enjoying the variety of animals he could portray. The majority of his depictions of the subject are, however, in the colourful media typical of the artist's larger drawings; one example, also previously in the Van Regteren Altena collection, was sold, London, Sotheby's, 11 July 2001, lot 14. 

The dramatic technique seen here is highly unusual, and a fine (even glittering) example of Castiglione's inventive experimentations with different media. It is perhaps most closely related to his monotypes, pioneering works whose potential was not fully explored by other artists until the 19th century.  A monotype with the same subject (fig. 1) is in the Devonshire Collection at Chatsworth.