Giovanni Cattini

Giovanni Cattini was an 18th-century printmaker active during a concise period spanning 1735 to 1743. His surviving body of work, represented across major international institutions, consists primarily of reproductive prints that document the output of prominent Venetian contemporaries.

A significant portion of Cattini’s documented production is derived from the work of artist Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. Cattini executed several plates for the influential series Icones ad vivum expressae, translating Piazzetta’s expressive figure studies into etchings or engravings. Documented plates from this series include Pensive man resting his head on his hand, Plate 12: A young man leaning on a staff looking outward, with an old man behind to his right, and Plate 10: Old woman with a rosary and a boy counting coins. These Giovanni Cattini prints capture the subtle dramatic light and psychological depth characteristic of Piazzetta's approach to everyday subjects. Cattini also created the print Portret van schilder Pietro Longhi.

Cattini’s historical significance is affirmed by the inclusion of his output in prominent collections worldwide. Eleven of his prints are preserved in museum collections, including works held by the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of their age, many of these historical images reside in the public domain, allowing for the circulation of high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for research and study.