La Signora Livia Sappi

Ghezzi was a gifted painter who also excelled as a draughtsman, and was the first professional caricaturist. He created spirited portraits of important persons in Rome in the early 18th century, including aristocrats, artists, prelates and tourists. Although nothing is known of Livia Sappi, the gentleman portrayed here is probably the same Knight Commander of the Order of Malta who contributed money in the years 1715-16 for fortifications on that island.