Plate 19: figure seen from behind with left hand raised

Giampietro Zanotti was an Italian painter who was born on 27 August 1674 in Bologna, Italy. He was a prominent artist of the Baroque period and is known for his religious paintings, portraits and landscapes. Zanotti was born into a family of artists and received his early training from his father, Francesco Maria Zanotti. He later studied with the famous painter Giovanni Gioseffo dal Sole and became a member of the Accademia Clementina in Bologna. Zanotti's paintings were strongly influenced by the works of Caravaggio and the Carracci brothers. His style was characterised by dramatic lighting, strong contrasts and vivid colours. He was also known for his ability to capture the emotions and expressions of his subjects. Zanotti's most famous works include "The Martyrdom of St Lawrence", "The Holy Family" and "Portrait of Cardinal Lambertini". He also painted several landscapes, which were highly regarded for their realistic depiction of nature. In addition to his career as a painter, Zanotti was also a writer and mathematician. He wrote several books on art and mathematics, including "Elementi di Pittura" (Elements of Painting) and "Teoria degli Affetti" (Theory of Affects). Giampietro Zanotti died on 16 April 1765 in Bologna, Italy. His works can be seen in several museums and galleries around the world, including the Louvre Museum in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.