A Young Woman in Profile

Art Historical Context

In the opulent world of 18th-century, Marco Alvise Pitteri crafted *A Young Woman in Profile between 1750 and 1759, a masterful print that captures the Rococo era's graceful elegance. Pitteri, a renowned Venetian engraver, specialized in reproductive prints that brought the refined beauty of pastel portraits and paintings to a wider audience. This work, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and department, exemplifies his skill in translating delicate features—soft contours, flowing hair, and poised demeanor—into enduring imagery. The medium of engraving over etching on ivory laid paper is key to its allure. Etching provided fluid, spontaneous lines for shading and texture, while the overlaid engraving added precise, intricate details, achieving a luminous depth rare in prints of the time. At nearly 45 x 35 cm on the plate, its generous scale enhances the intimacy of the profile view, evoking the aristocratic portraiture popularized by artists like Rosalba Carriera, whom Pitteri often emulated. This piece highlights printmaking's cultural role in democratizing high art during Venice's artistic golden age, allowing collectors far beyond the lagoon to own sophisticated vignettes of youth and poise. A testament to technical virtuosity, it invites visitors to appreciate the marriage of innovation and tradition in 18th-century Europe.

About the Artist

Marco Alvise Pitteri · 1702–1786

Comment on works: Copper engraver