Giovanni Battista Mercati

Giovanni Battista Mercati (1591–1645) was an Italian painter and engraver, active in a Baroque style.

Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, San Lorenzo, Sansepolcro

Biography

He was born in Borgo San Sepolcro, in Tuscany, but was also active in Rome. He is best known from his engravings, many made after other artists including Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carraci, and other masters. He painted several altarpieces and frescoes in Sansepolcro, including two frescos on the Life of the Virgin for the church of Santa Chiara, and an altar-piece in San Lorenzo. He also has paintings in Livorno and Gubbio.[1] Among his engravings are:

  • Four antique figures from the Arch of Constantine, in the style of Giovanni Battista Gallestruzzi.
  • The Marriage of St. Catherine; after Correggio.
  • St Bibiana refusing to sacrifice to false Gods; (1626) after a fresco in Santa Bibiana by Pietro da Cortona.[2]

One interesting set of engravings are his depictions of some of the extant Ancient Roman ruins in Rome, collected in an edition of about fifty-two plates, titled Alcune vedute et prospettive di luoghi dishabitati di Roma (1629) with introduction by Salvatore Settis, engraved in the manner of Israel Silvestre. The series is not a scientific depiction, but does capture some views at a time when kilns and sites were still actively dismantling the remains of ancient edifices. The prints may have influenced Vasi and later Piranesi. Some of the views, however border on being fanciful capricci. Among his engravings are:[3]

References
  1. A Biographical History of the Fine Arts, or Memoirs of the Lives and Works, by Shearjashub Spooner, page 552.
  2. Dedicated by Mercati to Marcello Sacchetti,Metropolitan Museum of Art collections.
  3. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Mercati prints from Alcune Vedute..
  4. Now considered remains of a Fountain by Septimius Severus.
  5. Church at the base of the Tarpeian Rock.
  6. Ruins no longer extant.
  7. Santa Francesca Romana, Rome with remains of Temple of Venus and Roma
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