Of Alessandro Longhi Paintings

Alessandro Longhi was an Italian portrait painter and printmaker in etching of the Venetian school. He was born in Venice in 1733, into an artistic family; his father, Pietro Longhi, was a renowned genre painter. Given his family's artistic milieu, Alessandro was exposed to the arts from a young age and received his early training from his father. His style was significantly influenced by the Rococo ambiance of 18th-century Venice, and he became known for his portraiture, which combined a sense of realism with the elegance typical of the period.

Alessandro Longhi's works are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and the subtle rendering of his subjects' clothing and surroundings, often capturing the essence of Venetian aristocracy and the characters of his time. He was also recognized for his skills in etching, contributing to the cataloging of notable Venetian artists of the past in his publication 'Compendio delle vite de' pittori veneziani istorici più rinomati del presente secolo', which was a valuable artistic and historical resource.

Despite being less well-known than his father, Pietro Longhi, Alessandro enjoyed a certain degree of success in his lifetime. He became a member of the Venetian Academy and held the position of portraitist for the patrician class. He documented the faces of Venetian society with a particular inclination towards the depiction of his subjects in their daily lives, much like his father's approach to genre painting.

Alessandro Longhi's death occurred in Venice in 1813. His legacy is preserved in the form of his portraits, which continue to provide a window into the world of 18th-century Venetian society, and in his historical writings that offer insights into the artists of his era. His work can be found in various museums and collections, serving as a testament to the enduring value of the Venetian portrait tradition.