Francesco Zuccarelli Pitigliano, Umbria 1702 - 1788 Florence

Now recognized as probably the greatest proponent of the Venetian Arcadian landscape, Zuccarelli some what surprisingly started his career in Florence engraving the frescoes of Andrea del Sarto in the church of SS Annunziata. He was to continue his studies in Rome with the leading Roman landscape painter Paolo Anesi before studying successively with Giovanni Maria Morandi and Pietro Nelli. It was not until circa 1730 that he was to arrive in Venice. Upon his arrival he encountered the works of Marco Ricci, the great fluidity and bravura of whose landscapes were greatly to effect the young artist, and it was at this point that he was to concentrate solely on landscape painting. He was soon taken up by the most important patrons of the arts in the city including Consul John Smith, Marshal Schlulenberg and Count Algarotti who were charmed by the rural idylls such as the present market scene. It was with the English patrons that he found particular favour and he sojourned in England on two occasions, the first trip from 1752-62 and the second 1765-71 spending the interlude in Venice before retiring to his home town of Florence. During his lifetime his work was highly acclaimed and he was a member of both the Royal Academy in London as well as being elected President of the Venetian Academy in 1772.