Francesco Bartolozzi

Etcher and publisher of Italian descent active in England. He was born in Florence into the family of goldsmith Gaetan Bartolozzi. From a young age, he exhibited an extraordinary artistic talent (his earliest works dating 1738-1740. He studied under Ignazio Hugford in Florence. After completing his studies, he left for Rome in 1748, then for Venice, where he was an apprentice in Joseph Wagner’s famous publishing house. He was invited to England by Richard Dalton, custodian of King George III’s collection, and arrived there in 1764. His talent was swiftly recognised and he joined the Society of Artists in 1765. In 1768, he was the only etcher to become a member-founder of the Royal Academy. He was ultimately named royal etcher to the crown. He perfected and popularized the etched stipple technique of William Wynne Ryland, which perfectly complements the pioneering works by Swiss painter Angelica Kauffman. His works were incredibly popular and students sought out his mentorship (i.a., William Tomkins, Luigi Schiavonetti). In 1802, at the age of 75, he moved to Lisbon, where he took on the position of director at the Academy of Fine Arts. He lived there until his death.