Giovanni Battista Pittoni

Pittoni was a leading Venetian painter of the early 18th century. Once his style had evolved it changed little, and his paintings, which are distinguished by their fluency and theatrical expressiveness, are not easily datable. Although he was well known outside his native city and received many commissions from abroad, especially Germany, he was one of the least travelled Venetian painters of his day.

Pittoni was born in Venice and trained there by his uncle, Francesco. Giordano and Sebastiano Ricci were early influences on his style, and he was also affected by the work of Piazzetta, and of Tiepolo, who was a younger contemporary. As well as exuberant easel representations of religious and mythological subjects, Pittoni painted frescoes, such as the 'Justice and Peace' in the Palazzo Pesaro, Venice.