Pier Leone Ghezzi

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Caricature of composer Antonio Vivaldi by Pier Leone Ghezzi

Pier Leone Ghezzi (28 June 1674 – 6 March 1755) was an Italian Rococo painter and caricaturist active in Rome.


Ghezzi was born and died in Rome. He trained under his father, Giuseppe Ghezzi, who also trained Antonio Amorosi. His father was secretary of the Roman Accademia di San Luca, and Pier Leone joined the Academy in 1705. His essay painting, the Allegory of Gratitude, was donated to the institution for his admission, as was customary. He painted for various churches such as the Cappuccini of Frascati and San Onofrio of Urbino.[1]

He was the godson of Carlo Maratta. Pier Leone is known for his frescoes in the Villa Falconieri of Frascati.

As a painter, his style changes quite much through the years, sometimes under the influence of French portraiture.

His pen and gouache caricatures are much freer in emotion than his state portraiture, and were much admired. They often depict named individuals or professions in satirical fashion.[2] Ghezzi made an extensive and eclectic use of drawings and watercolors. Recent scientific discoveries include watercolors reproducing stones and marbles, which were in 1727 collected in a manuscript named "Studio di molte pietre", i.e. Collection of different stones, currently preserved at the Biblioteca Alessandrina of Rome.


  • Wittkower, Rudolf (1980). Art and Architecture Italy, 1600-1750. Pelican History of Art. Penguin Books. p. 495. 
  1. ^ Memorie intorno i letterati e gli artisti della città di Ascoli nel Piceno, by Giacinto Cantalamessa Carboni, (183), page 266.
  2. ^ Memorie intorno i letterati e gli artisti della città di Ascoli nel Picino, by Giacinto Cantalamessa Carboni, (183), page 265.

Le pietre rivelate. Lo 'Studio di molte pietre' di Pier Leone Ghezzi, manoscritto 322 della Biblioteca Universitaria Alessandrina, a cura di Paolo Coen e Giovan Battista Fidanza, Roma: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2011.

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