Portrait of King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies by Giuseppe Cammarano

I recently had the opportunity to view my friend's latest acquisition: The Portrait of King Ferdinando II of the Two Sicilies (Palermo 1810-1859 Caserta) attributed to Giuseppe Cammarano (Sciacca 1766-1850 Napoli). The inscription on the reverse of the painting states that this was the "First study for the picture at the embassy of Naples in Paris." Dressed in the uniform of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius, the Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola of Naples can be seen in the background. In addition to being a portraitist of the royal family, Giuseppe Cammarano served as a professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Naples.