Who painted Marchese Cesare Beccaria?

Marchese Cesare Beccaria was painted by Giovanni Antonio Sasso in 1816.

Where can I see Marchese Cesare Beccaria?

Marchese Cesare Beccaria is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Marchese Cesare Beccaria?

Marchese Cesare Beccaria is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Marchese Cesare Beccaria?

Museum-quality prints of Marchese Cesare Beccaria are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Marchese Cesare Beccaria

Giovanni Antonio Sasso , 1816

Marchese Cesare Beccaria is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Antonio Sasso. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: G. B. Bosio dis.; lower right in plate: G. A. Sasso inc.; lower center in plate: Marchese Cesare Beccaria
Markings: Marked:stamp, lower right, in blue: [Robbins Winfield]

About this work

The artist, Sasso, made this years after Beccaria died, so the face is imagined, not a real likeness.

This etching shows a man in a high-collared coat, his face half in shadow. The lines are soft, almost smudged, like pencil on rough paper.

The subject is Cesare Beccaria, an Italian thinker who wrote On Crimes and Punishments in 1764. His book argued against torture and the death penalty, radical ideas at the time. The artist, Sasso, made this years after Beccaria died, so the face is imagined, not a real likeness. The stipple technique (tiny dots that build up tone) gives the portrait a quiet, thoughtful mood.

To see how other artists portrayed reformers, look up the subject Cesare Beccaria.

Overview

Marchese Cesare Beccaria is a print by Giovanni Antonio Sasso, created in 1816 using etching and stipple engraving techniques.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Cesare Beccaria, an Italian thinker who advocated for penal reform in his 1764 book On Crimes and Punishments. Sasso's portrait, made after Beccaria's death, presents an imagined likeness of the influential writer.

Technique & Style

The etching features soft, subtle lines and a stipple technique that creates a contemplative atmosphere. The resulting image shows Beccaria in a high-collared coat, with his face partially shaded.

Context

Beccaria's writings challenged prevailing attitudes towards punishment, arguing against torture and the death penalty. His ideas were considered radical in the 18th century.