S. Isidorus, S. Vincentius, S. Hyacinthus

Art Historical Context

Behold *S. Isidorus, S. Vincentius, S Hyacinthus* (1760), a finely wrought engraving that captures the devotional spirit of 18th-century Venice. Created after a design by Giovanni Battista Piazz, the celebrated Rococo artist known for his dramatic lighting and emotive figures, this print was expertly engraved by Francesco Bartolozzi and Joseph Wagner. It depicts three revered saints—Isidore (likely the humble farmer-saint), Vincent (the martyr or charitable figure), and Hyacinth (the Polish Dominican missionary)—arranged in a harmonious composition that invites contemplation. Engraving, the medium here, was a masterful reproductive technique of the era, where intricate lines incised into a copper plate transferred rich tonal depth and texture to paper. Measuring a modest plate size of 9 1/8 x 6 5/16 inches, this work exemplifies how prints democratized art, allowing religious imagery to reach beyond elite patrons into homes and churches across Europe. Piazzetta's influence shines through in the saints' expressive faces and flowing drapery, blending Baroque intensity with Rococo elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired 1962), this piece highlights the collaborative genius of Venetian printmaking. It reminds us how such artworks fostered faith and artistry in an age of enlightenment and piety.

About the Artist

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta|Francesco Bartolozzi|Joseph Wagner · 1682–1754

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta was born in Venice in 1682 and trained first under his father, the sculptor and woodcarver Giacomo Piazzetta, before turning decisively to painting. The crucial formative experience of his career came when he traveled to Bologna to study under Giuseppe Maria Crespi, whose dramatic use of chiaroscuro — strong contrasts of light and shadow rooted in the Caravaggesque trad...