Pier Leone Ghezzi (28 June 1674 - 6 March 1755) was an Italian Rococo painter and caricaturist active in Rome.
Ghezzi was born and died in Rome. He was the godson of Carlo Maratta.
He trained under his father, Giuseppe Ghezzi, who also trained Antonio Amorosi. His father was secretary of the Roman Accademia di San Luca, and Pier Leone joined the Academy in 1705. His essay painting, the Allegory of Gratitude, was donated to the institution for his admission, as was customary. He painted for various churches such as the Cappuccini of Frascati and San Onofrio of Urbino.[1]
In 1708, he was appointed painter to the Camera Apostolica by Pope Clement XI. In 1710 Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma awarded him the cross of a knight.[2] Pier Leone is known for his frescoes in the Villa Falconieri of Frascati.
Ghezzi was a draughtsman, and theatrical designer. In 1729 he staged an impressive fireworks display in the Piazza Navona for the dauphin of France.[2] As a painter, his style changes quite much through the years, sometimes under the influence of French portraiture.
Ghezzi worked as a serious artist, but it is his caricatures for which he is most well known.[3] He was possibly the first professional caricaturist.[4]
His pen and gouache caricatures are much freer in emotion than his state portraiture, and were much admired. They often depict named individuals or professions in satirical fashion.[5] Ghezzi made an extensive and eclectic use of drawings and watercolors. Recent scientific discoveries include watercolors reproducing stones and marbles, which were in 1727 collected in a manuscript named "Studio di molte pietre", i.e. Collection of different stones, currently preserved at the Biblioteca Alessandrina of Rome.