Giovanni Battista Brustolon

Giovanni Battista Brustolon was an eighteenth-century printmaker active between 1746 and 1763. His documented output consists primarily of detailed engravings focused on documenting Venetian ceremonial life and architectural subjects.

Brustolon’s major works include illustrations from the series Ducal Ceremonies and Festivals (Le Feste Ducali), which captured the official pomp of the Venetian Republic. Key pieces from this documentation are Plate 5: The Doge in the Bucintoro Departing for the Porto di Lido on Ascension Day and Plate 9: Procession on Corpus Christi Day in the Piazza San Marco. His work also demonstrated an interest in architectural renderings and design, exemplified by a Design of a fireplace and the informative Plate 4: cross-section of the Hall of the Institute of Bologna, with the entrance to the room. Other significant works include the print Annual Visit of the Doge to Santa Maria della Salute.

Fifteen Giovanni Battista Brustolon prints are represented in major North American museum collections, affirming the historical and museum-quality significance of his career. His works are specifically held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Today, much of Brustolon’s historical documentation is in the public domain, making high-quality prints and downloadable artwork widely accessible for scholarship and public viewing.