Pier Leone Ghezzi - Leonardo da Vinci - Annibale Carracci - Characters and Caricaturas

William Hogarth is the father of satirical caricatures and moral paintings, a genre which would later develop into cartoons and one of the most innovative artists of his generation, depicting 18th-century life, culture and his middle-class upbringing. Born 1697, in a time of social and moral depravity into a poor, middle-class family, he lived in debtors' lodging for five years as a very young boy and had seen the dark side of life. Hogarth started work as an apprentice of Ellis Gamble, a plate engraver, at the age of 16. He developed his artistic skills by attending Sir James Thornhill's Academy of art in London's Covent Garden and gained popularity for his prints that brought art to the common man for the first time in history. From 1731 onwards, Hogarth produced what was to become known as his 'modern morality' paintings. These were specifically designed to be copied in large numbers and sold as prints to members of the public. The deterioration of British morals particularly concerned him and his satirical engravings illustrate his concerns for his fellow countrymen. He created a new school of English painting to rival the Old Masters of the Renaissance. Technological advances allowed his engravings to be sold in large numbers to people who would not have been able to previously afford art. His series of moral paintings, such as A Harlot's Progress and A Rake's Progress took a satirical look at the social order of the day and highlighted the best and worst parts of English culture. The principals of this work relied heavily on what Hogarth described as 'the Line of Beauty', the serpentine line which was incorporated into much of his work.

Printmaking in woodcut and engraving came to Northern Italy within a few decades of their invention north of the Alps. Engraving probably came first to Florence in the 1440s, the goldsmith Maso Finiguerra (1426–64) used the technique. Italian engraving caught the very early Renaissance, 1460–1490. Print copying was a widely accepted practice, as well as copying of paintings viewed as images in their own right.

Pier Leone Ghezzi was born in Rome in 1674. He came from a family of artists and his father was a well-known painter. Ghezzi studied under his father and also trained at the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. Ghezzi was known for his Rococo paintings, which were characterised by their playful and ornate designs. He often painted scenes of everyday life, such as street vendors and musicians, as well as portraits of prominent figures of the time. One of Ghezzi's most famous works is his series of caricatures, which he created in the early 18th century. These caricatures depicted famous people of the time, such as politicians, actors and musicians, in a humorous and exaggerated style. Ghezzi was also an accomplished draughtsman and produced many drawings and sketches throughout his career. His drawings often served as studies for his paintings and are highly sought after by collectors. Ghezzi died in Rome in 1755, leaving a legacy as one of the most influential Rococo painters of his time. His works can be found in museums and private collections around the world.