Pompeo Batoni Favourite Master of Painters in Eighteenth-Century Rome

Introduction Pompeo Batoni was an Italian painter and draughtsman. He was the most celebrated painter in Rome of his day, and one of the most famous in Europe. For nearly half a century, he painted the portraits of international travellers on the grand tour to Rome. He was also a gifted history painter, and his religious and mythological paintings were highly sought after. See Teachers’ Notes

How it all began He was talent-spotted at the age of 24 by a nobleman in 1732 while making a drawing in a doorway. He was so impressed by Batoni’s talent that he offered him a commission on the spot. This was the beginning of a fantastic career. See Teachers’ Notes

The first commission Batoni started by preparing a cartoon for the altarpiece “The Virgin and Child with the Blessed Peitro, Castora, Forte, and Lodolfo”, ( ). When the canvas was completed he was paid the same as other much more experienced artists earned at the time – a real mark of appreciation. See teachers’ Notes

Batoni the Artist Following the success and fame he had gained from his altarpieces, Batoni began to work as a portrait artist in the 1740’s. For nearly half a century he recorded the international travellers who visited the city on the Grand Tour, and these portraits are some of the most important artistic outcomes of the time. More than two thirds of his 225 known portraits are of British sitters. See Teachers’ Notes

Batoni’s ability to show his sitters’ status and interests through their clothes was unrivalled and he paid particular attention to the details of dress because he knew this was important to his sitters. Foreign travel, especially the Grand Tour of Rome, allowed men to buy fine Italian clothing which was brighter in colour and more lavishly decorated than the styles worn in England.

His portraits were accurate and flattering. He also communicated the interests of sitters through gestures, clothing, and props such as sculptures, books and maps. His use of light and colour was unmatched by his rivals. In particular, he painted fashionable fabrics and furs with striking realism.

How he would have trained and worked Drawing was always the foundation of his art and the source of his inspiration. It is said that he learnt to draw secretly at night as a boy using materials found around the house, as his father forbade him to draw outside of the workshop because he wanted to teach him the art of being a goldsmith. He also studied figures modelled in clay which he took from his father’s workshop, a method of working that he may have incorporated into his studio practice in Rome.

See Teachers’ Notes Overall objective: To create a self portrait in a different historical era. Objective : To show understanding of Batoni’s techniques and use of symbols in your own self portrait.

Firstly decide on what part of History you want to place yourself. 17 th, 18 th, 19 th century. You might want to be a Wealthy Tudor or a knight of the round table. You will need to show your status through props in your painting, think about wealth, and academic status. Maybe you are a traveller and will have globes around you. You will then need to research this era and make sketches of the clothing, objects and style of art. (homework sheet)