Portrait of Francesco Bartolozzi, seated, holding a magnifying glass with printmaking tools and a plate on the desk behind him

Art Historical Context

This 1827 stipple etching and engraving captures Francesco Bartolozzi, the renowned Italian-born printmaker, seated at his desk while holding a magnifying glass. Printmaking tools and a copper plate rest behind him, emphasizing his lifelong dedication to the craft. Created by Roberto Focosi and Luigi Rados, the portrait uses delicate dotted lines and fine engraving to render subtle tones and textures, a technique Bartolozzi himself helped popularize across Europe. The image offers a window into the working life of an artist whose innovations transformed reproductive printmaking in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By showing Bartolozzi actively engaged with his instruments, the print celebrates both the precision and artistry required in this medium. Such portraits served not only as personal tributes but also as records of the technical skills that defined the era’s graphic arts. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work continues to highlight the collaborative nature of print production and the enduring legacy of its central figure.

About the Artist

Roberto Focosi|Luigi Rados|Francesco Bartolozzi (Italian|Italian|Italian) · 1806 |1773 |1728 –1867 |1773 |1815

Italian, Milan 1806–1867 Milan|Italian, Parma 1773–1840|Italian, Florence 1728–1815 Lisbon