The Ricotta Eaters is a c.1585 oil on canvas painting by Vincenzo Campi, showing four figures eating a round ricotta.

[1] The artist himself entitled it Buffonaria, which links its four figures to Commedia dell'arte characters, and depicted himself as Pantalone, wearing red costume.

[2] In 1875, the work was presented by Jacques Bernard to the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, where it is currently displayed.

The ricotta placed on the tray appears[citation needed] to form an image of the skull, symbolizing memento mori, a reminder of death, in an atmosphere characterised by excess and abandon.

[3]