Francesco d' Ageno 1785 - 1790

Francesco Bartolozzi made this print of Francesco d' Ageno in the late 18th century. Bartolozzi was an Italian engraver who spent much of his career in London. Here he is working in the reproductive medium of stipple engraving, a popular way of disseminating images of paintings to a wider public. Notice the composition, likely copied from a painted portrait: the sitter gazes nobly into the distance, wearing powdered wig and elaborate attire. Prints like this offer an insight into the visual culture of the time and the social function of art. This print flattens the hierarchy of painting, disseminating images of wealthy and powerful people to an expanding middle class. The print market created new opportunities for artists like Bartolozzi, changing the landscape of art production and consumption. To understand the significance of this image fully, we might consult period newspapers, letters, and other archival sources, examining the social networks in which Bartolozzi operated. Only then can we fully grasp the changing role of art in 18th-century society.