Francesco Bartolozzi Italian engraver. Date of Birth: 25.09.1727 Country: Italy

1. Francesco Bartolozzi: Italian Master of Stipple Engraving
2. Training and Venetian Influence
3. Journey to Rome and Royal Patronage
4. Arrival in England and Stipple Engraving
5. Royal Collection and Collaboration
6. Notable Works and Recognition
7. Later Years and Legacy

Francesco Bartolozzi: Italian Master of Stipple Engraving

Francesco Bartolozzi was an Italian master engraver renowned for his exquisite stipple engraving technique. Born in Florence in 1727, he honed his craft under the tutelage of Ignazio Hugford at the Florentine Academy of Arts.

Training and Venetian Influence

Bartolozzi's early artistic development was shaped by his apprenticeship with Venetian engraver Joseph Wagner from 1745 to 1751. In Wagner's studio, he mastered the art of engraving with multiple burins.

Journey to Rome and Royal Patronage

After his Venetian sojourn, Bartolozzi moved to Rome, where he gained the patronage of Cardinal Bottari. However, his works initially failed to achieve significant recognition. Undeterred, he sought opportunities abroad.

Arrival in England and Stipple Engraving

In 1764, Bartolozzi accepted an invitation from Dalton, the keeper of the collection of King George III, to visit England. In London, under the guidance of William Ryland, he mastered the enigmatic stipple engraving technique. This method involved using a dotting tool to create delicate and nuanced images.

Royal Collection and Collaboration

Bartolozzi was commissioned to engrave various works from the royal collection. He also collaborated with renowned artists of the time, including Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Angelica Kauffman, and Joshua Reynolds.

Notable Works and Recognition

Among Bartolozzi's most celebrated engravings are "Venus, Cupid, and a Satyr" (after Luca Giordano), "Madonna with the Infant Christ" (after Sassoferrato), and "Mary, Queen of Scots, and Her Son, James I" (after F. Zuccaro). In 1769, he was elected a full member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1802, Bartolozzi bid farewell to England and traveled to Lisbon at the invitation of the Prince Regent of Portugal. There, he established a school for engravers, fostering the art in his adopted home. Francesco Bartolozzi passed away in Lisbon on March 9, 1815, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of the most distinguished stipple engravers of the 18th century.