An Old Man Standing

A native of Venice, artist, and collector, Zanetti also acted as an agent, arranging sales and commissions since he knew both the leading artists and the most influential patrons. In 1720, while visiting England, Zanetti acquired a group of 130 drawings executed by Parmigianino, many of which were initially done as models for chiaroscuro woodcuts. Zanetti made his own chiaroscuros after these sheets, helping to revive the medium in the 18th century. Since Zanetti was primarily a copyist, his originality is found not so much in his compositions as in his technique. Previously, chiaroscuro printmakers had used several shades of a single subdued color to imitate the effect of wash in monochromatic drawings. Zanetti, however, experimented with using different colors within a single print and, influenced by the rococo paintings of his day, chose contrasting bright pastels.