Saint Philip, head and shoulders, holding a cross and a book; after Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (copy in reverse) 1735 - 1780

Marco Alvise Pitteri made this print of Saint Phillip after Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, using engraving techniques. The image is composed of thousands of tiny etched lines, all worked into a copper plate. Consider how the incised lines capture light and shadow, creating delicate tonal gradations. This was no quick task. Pitteri would have spent hours, perhaps days, bent over the plate, carefully manipulating the burin to achieve the desired effect. The final print involved another phase of piecework: each impression requiring inking and running through a press. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas in the 18th century. While the original painting would only have been seen by a select few, prints made art accessible to a wider audience, driving demand in the art market. Thinking about this artwork, it reminds us that even seemingly "simple" images carry a rich history of materials, labor, and social context. It challenges us to consider the artistic value of reproduction and distribution, alongside originality.