Giovanni Pichler (Born 10 January 1734 in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

; died 25 January 1791 in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

) was a German-Italian artist in

engraved gems An engraved gem, frequently referred to as an intaglio, is a small and usually semi-precious gemstone that has been carved, in the Western tradition normally with images or inscriptions only on one face. The engraving of gemstones was a major lux ...

Biography

Giovanni Pichler was born on 10 January 1734 in Naples, where his father, the Tyrolean gem-engraver, Anton Pichler, had settled. He was the brother of

Luigi Pichler Luigi Pichler (January 31, 1773 in Rome – March 13, 1854 in Rome) was a German-Italian artist in engraved gems. Son of Anton Pichler and half-brother and student of Giovanni Pichler, Luigi was an apprentice to his greatly renowned 39-year olde ...

, who also became a gem-engraver. In 1743 his father moved to Rome. Giovanni was educated by his father in classical methods, and apprenticed to

Domenico Corvi Domenico Corvi (16 September 172122 July 1803) was an Italian painter at the close of the 18th century, active in an early Neoclassic style in Rome and surrounding sites. Biography Early life and education Corvi was born in Viterbo. After s ...

''The Grove Encyclopaedia of Engraving.'' He cut, after 15 years, a

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

in Combat with the Nemean Lions, a generally admired piece. His

gem A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, semiprecious stone, or simply gem) is a piece of mineral crystal which, when cut or polished, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. Certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli, opal, an ...

s, both recessed and embossed, are of outstanding clarity and sharpness and he was one of the most sought after engravers of his age, leaving him with a prolific 379 pieces to his name. He also worked in pastel painting. In 1790 he produced a catalogue of 200 examples of his work. Johann Joseph (Giuseppe) Pichler, stepbrother of Giovanni and Luigi Pichler, born in 1760 in Rome, was a skillful

lapidary Lapidary () is the practice of shaping rock (geology), stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameo (carving), cameos), and faceted designs. A person who practices lapidary techniques of ...

. Giovanni Pichler died on 25 January 1791 in Rome. A portrait bust of Pichler by the sculptor,

Christopher Hewetson Christopher Hewetson (c.1737–1798) was a neoclassical sculptor of marble, terracotta and bronze Bust (sculpture), portrait busts. Born in Ireland, he was active in Rome. Biography Hewetson was born in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Irela ...

is conserved in the Musei Capitolini, Rome.

References

Literature

* I. Bignamini, C. Hornsby, ''Digging And Dealing In Eighteenth-Century Rome'' (2010), p. 316-317 * G. Tassinari, 'I ritratti dei viaggiatori del Grand Tour sugli intaglio ed i cammei di Giovanni Pichler', in ''Bolletino del Centro Interuniversitario di ricerche sul viaggio in Italia''; 26:1 (2005), p. 11-79 * G. Seidmann, 'The Grand Tourist's favourite souvenirs: cameos and intaglios', in ''RSA Journal'' (1996), p. 63-66 * Hermann Rollett: ''Die drei Meister der Gemmoglyptik Antonio, Giovanni und Luigi Pichler: eine biographisch-kunstgeschichtliche Darstellung'' (1884. Vienna) * ''Catalogo d'impronti cavati da gemme incise dal Cavaliere Giovanni Pichler ...'' (1790) 18th-century Italian artists German artists Italian people of Austrian descent Italian people of German descent 18th-century Neapolitan people Engraved gem artists 1734 births 1791 deaths {{Italy-artist-stub Catholic engravers Artists from the Kingdom of Naples