Giovanni Volpato

Giovanni Volpato (1735–1803) was a pivotal figure in the 18th-century Roman art sphere, known primarily as an exceptionally skilled Italian engraver. However, his career was remarkable for its unique fusion of artistic output and commercial enterprise. Operating during the height of the Grand Tour, Volpato functioned simultaneously as a highly productive printmaker, an active excavator, a dealer in antiquities, and the founder of a significant manufactory producing fine biscuit porcelain figurines.

Volpato’s engraving career, spanning the years 1743 to 1775, focused on translating and disseminating both classical and contemporary European iconography. His technical facility allowed him to transpose the painterly styles of others, such as Francesco Zuccarelli, evident in works like Landschap met hengelaar. Crucially, he contributed extensively to the visual documentation of Rome, creating detailed urban cartography that served as essential records for travelers and scholars alike. This effort culminated in monumental works of panorama, most notably the exacting, multi-plate composition, Panorama van de stad Rome (linker deel and midden deel).

Beyond topography and classical reference, Volpato demonstrated an expansive versatility in his subject matter. He captured idealized scenes of pastoral beauty, such as Primavera, a group of women collecting flowers and making crowns from them, alongside vibrant, unvarnished genre scenes. The lively depiction of tavern culture found in "A barmaid filling mugs at left, a man holds a bottle at center, and three people sit at a table drinking at right" suggests an artist intimately engaged with the full spectrum of Roman life, willing to shift effortlessly between sublime archaeological record and immediate, commercial art.

This commercial dexterity, combining the production of museum-quality visual documentation with profitable excavations and porcelain manufacture, positioned Volpato as one of the great art entrepreneurs of his age. His influence ensured that his highly sought-after copperplate works remained essential educational and decorative items. Today, his legacy as a master engraver is preserved through his fifteen known prints held in major international collections, including the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A significant portion of this output is available for study in the public domain, guaranteeing continued access to Volpato’s enduring body of high-quality prints.