Alessandro Longhi

 Happy Birthday Alessandro Longhi!! Appropriate to write about an Italian painter since I am currently in Venice! Longhi was born in 1733 in Venice and his father, Pietro, was a painter also. Alessandro studied with his father and became a portrait painter. He was best known for his paintings of royalty and important figures. He painted full length figures in flamboyant costumes such as the one pictured here today, Jacopo Gradenigo. Longhi also created etchings and evidently knew of Rembrandt's techniques which he also employed.