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Historical Artist - Pompeo Batoni (1708 - 1787)
Pompeo Batoni studied in Rome under the encouragement of his goldsmith father. He adopted his
style from the work of Raphael and ancient art. Beginning in 1735, He received many commissions
to create altarpieces as well as mythological and historical paintings. In addition to this,
Batoni was an incredibly popular portrait painter, elite from across Europe traveled to Rome to
sit for the artist. His portrait style was elegant and polished, often incorporating background
scenes filled with Roman sculpture or architecture. Batoni was given the position as curator for
the papal collections and was a member of Rome’s intellectual and social elite.
In 1769, the double portrait of Joseph II and Leopold II won an Austrian nobility for Batoni.
He also portrayed Pope Pius VI. According to a rumor, he bequeathed his palette and brushes to
Jacques-Louis David.
He was married twice, to Caterina Setti in 1729, and then to Lucia Fattori in 1747, and had
twelve children; three of his sons assisted in his studio. From 1759 Batoni lived in a large
house on the Via Bocca di Leone in Rome, which included a studio as well as exhibition rooms and
a drawing academy. He died in Rome.
Contemporary Italian Artists
Art Galleries in Italy
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