Pompeo Girolamo Batoni Painting Reproductions Gallery 2 of 3

Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (1708-1787) was an Italian painter, born in Lucca, Tuscany. He is best known for his portraits of British aristocrats, which earned him a reputation as one of the leading portrait painters of his time.

Batoni showed an early talent for painting and was trained in Rome, where he became a member of the Accademia di San Luca. He gained his first commissions from the Vatican, where he painted altarpieces and frescoes.

In the 1740s, Batoni began to focus on portraiture and quickly became popular among the British expatriate community in Rome. His elegant and flattering style was particularly well-suited to portraying the wealth and status of his subjects.

Batoni's portraits were highly sought-after, and he received commissions from some of the most prominent families in Europe, including the Hanoverians, the Habsburgs, and the Bourbons. His portrait of Charles III of Spain earned him membership in the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece.

Batoni's style was influenced by the Baroque and Rococo movements, but he also incorporated elements of Neoclassicism, which was emerging as a new style in the mid-18th century. He was known for his use of rich colors, his attention to detail, and his ability to capture the individual character of his subjects.

In addition to his portraits, Batoni also painted historical and mythological scenes, landscapes, and still lifes. His works can be found in museums and private collections around the world, including the Louvre in Paris, the National Gallery in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Batoni continued to paint until his death in Rome in 1787. His legacy as one of the great portrait painters of the 18th century has endured, and his influence can be seen in the work of many later artists.