Portrait of Pompeo Batoni

The 100 Most Famous Pompeo Batoni Paintings, Each One of a Kind

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 164 works by Pompeo Batoni in our catalogue

In short

Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) (1748) is the Pompeo Batoni painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna. After it, the eye goes to A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts (1778) and Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768). Among the 164 works of Pompeo Batoni in our catalog, these 100 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.

1708 – 1787, Lucca Neoclassicism Most works: Uppark
Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) (1748) by Pompeo Batoni1. Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) 1748 A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts (1778) by Pompeo Batoni2. A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts 1778 Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768) by Pompeo Batoni3. Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni 1768

Top 10 paintings by Pompeo Batoni, through the gallery's eye

1
Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) (1748) by Pompeo Batoni

Hercules at the Crossroads (detail)

1748 · Oil On Canvas · Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna

To stand before a depiction such as Pompeo Batoni’s Hercules at the Crossroads is to be invited into a profound moment of human reckoning. This painting, dating from 1748, transcends mere portraiture or mythological illustration; it captures the very essence of decision-making—that fraught, beautiful space where potential futures diverge. The central figure, Hercules, is rendered not in the throes of battle, but in deep, almost agonizing contemplation. His posture, with…

About this original
2
A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts (1778) by Pompeo Batoni

A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts

1778 · Oil On Canvas · Museo del Prado, Madrid

Pompeo Batoni’s “A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts” stands as a quintessential embodiment of the Rococo artistic movement, capturing not merely a portrait but an entire atmosphere of refined grandeur and intellectual contemplation. Painted in 1778, this monumental canvas—measuring 221 x 157 cm—currently resides within the hallowed halls of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, ensuring its legacy continues to inspire awe and admiration.

About this original
3
Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768) by Pompeo Batoni

Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni

1768 · Oil On Canvas · National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

The gaze of Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni, meets the observer through this 1768 portrait by Pompeo Batoni. The sitter carries the weight of a significant lineage, appearing as the second son to survive to adulthood of Giuseppe Sforza. His presence in the frame reflects the prominence he held as a Papal politician throughout the 1750s and 1760s. Every detail of his bearing suggests a man deeply embedded…

The story behind this original
4
Time Unveiling Truth (1742) by Pompeo Batoni

Time Unveiling Truth

1742 · Oil · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

A Celestial Ascent of Allegory The air feels thick with the movement of a cosmic drama, a swirling ascent where the terrestrial and the divine collide. In this 1742 oil painting, figures rise through a luminous sky, their bodies caught in a rhythmic, upward surge that defies gravity. Drapery flows in heavy, silken waves, catching a light that seems to pour from the upper left, casting soft shadows across porcelain…

Look closer at this work
6
Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827) (1764) by Pompeo Batoni

Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827)

1764 · Oil On Canvas · Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh

Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, is presented in a formal grand manner portrait that emphasizes his status and connection to the natural world. He is positioned centrally within a landscape, his presence anchored by a large brown horse to his left and hunting dogs at his feet. The composition is vertical, drawing the eye from the upward gesture of his arm toward the sky. A saturated red frock coat…

Look closer at this work
7
John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1740 - 1804. Bibliophile (1761) by Pompeo Batoni

John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1740 - 1804. Bibliophile

1761 · Oil On Canvas · Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

The Duke of Roxburghe occupies the center of the frame, a figure of quiet authority amidst a setting of classical grandeur. He sits with an upright, stately posture, his presence commanding the space through a combination of velvet and light. A heavy crimson cloak, deep and saturated, drapes around him, its texture suggesting the weight of fine velvet. The ermine fur at his collar provides a sharp, creamy contrast to…

The story behind this original
8
Portrait of John Woodyeare (1750) by Pompeo Batoni

Portrait of John Woodyeare

1750 · Oil On Canvas · Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis

The young man occupies the space with a quiet, commanding poise, his body turned slightly to create a sense of movement within the stillness. He is draped in the heavy, luxurious textures of the mid-eighteenth century, where deep forest green and crimson red collide against a dark, atmospheric background. Light falls across his features with a dramatic chiaroscuro effect, catching the soft sheen of his silk attire and the delicate,…

Look closer at this work
9
Peter Beckford (1740-1811), godsejer, Dorset. (1766) by Pompeo Batoni

Peter Beckford (1740-1811), godsejer, Dorset.

1766 · Oil On Canvas · Statens Museum For Kunst, Copenhagen

A full-length figure of Peter Beckford occupies the center-right of this vertical composition. He is depicted standing in a landscape, wearing a red frock coat with silver applications, paired with breeches and stockings. His pose is elegant, with one hand holding a paper and the other a walking stick. At his feet sits a small dog. To the left, a large stone pedestal provides a vertical counterweight to the subject.…

Look closer at this work
10
The Rotterdam tobacco trader Pieter Caarten (1778) by Pompeo Batoni

The Rotterdam tobacco trader Pieter Caarten

1778 · Oil On Canvas · Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam

Pieter Caarten, a thirty-seven-year-old tobacco merchant from Rotterdam, sits for this formal portrait in Rome in 1778. Captured in a three-quarter view, the subject gazes directly at the viewer with a reserved, serious expression. He is presented from the chest up, a composition that emphasizes his dignified posture and the material markers of his success. A powdered white wig frames a face rendered with smooth, precise transitions, while a subtle…

The story behind this original

Pompeo Batoni's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 100

11Hercules at the Crossroads (1748) by Pompeo BatoniHercules at the Crossroads1748 · Liechtenstein Museum 12Hercules at the Crossroads (1742) by Pompeo BatoniHercules at the Crossroads1742 · Palazzo Pitti 13Hercules at the Crossroads (1765) by Pompeo BatoniHercules at the Crossroads1765 · Hermitage Museum 14Sir Sampson Gideon and an unidentified companion (1767) by Pompeo BatoniSir Sampson Gideon and an unidentified companion1767 · National Gallery of Victoria 15Peace and War (1776) by Pompeo BatoniPeace and War1776 · Art Institute of Chicago 16Portrait of Aleksandra née Lubomirska, Wife of Stanisław Potocki (1758–1831) (1780) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Aleksandra née Lubomirska, Wife of Stanisław Potocki (1758–1831)1780 · National Museum in Kraków 17James Caulfeild, fourth Viscount Charlemont (Later first Earl of Charlemont) (1753) by Pompeo BatoniJames Caulfeild, fourth Viscount Charlemont (Later first Earl of Charlemont)1753 · Yale Center for British Art 18Peace and Justice (1745) by Pompeo BatoniPeace and Justice1745 · Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 19The infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle (1743) by Pompeo BatoniThe infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle1743 · Palazzo Pitti 20Samson and Delilah (1766) by Pompeo BatoniSamson and Delilah1766 · Detroit Institute of Arts 21Atis and Galathea (1761) by Pompeo BatoniAtis and Galathea1761 · Nationalmuseum 22Philip Metcalfe (1766) by Pompeo BatoniPhilip Metcalfe1766 · National Portrait Gallery 23Portrait of John Rolle Walter, MP and landowner, Exeter (1753) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of John Rolle Walter, MP and landowner, Exeter1753 · Statens Museum For Kunst 24Saint Andrew (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Andrew1741 · Art Institute of Chicago 25Portrait of Duchess Sforza Cesarini (d.1765) (1768) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Duchess Sforza Cesarini (d.1765)1768 · Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery 26Portrait of Prince B. Kurakin (1782) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Prince B. Kurakin1782 · Hermitage Museum 27Allegory of the Arts (1740) by Pompeo BatoniAllegory of the Arts1740 · Städel Museum 28Portrait of Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra (1750) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra1750 · Walters Art Museum 29Portrait of Cardinal Jean-François Joseph de Rochechouart (1762) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Cardinal Jean-François Joseph de Rochechouart1762 · Saint Louis Art Museum 30Portrait of Joseph Henry of Straffan (1750) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Joseph Henry of Straffan1750 · Walters Art Museum 31Venus Presenting Aeneas with Armour Forged by Vulcan (1748) by Pompeo BatoniVenus Presenting Aeneas with Armour Forged by Vulcan1748 · Liechtenstein Museum 32James Bruce of Kinnaird, 1730 - 1794. African explorer (1762) by Pompeo BatoniJames Bruce of Kinnaird, 1730 - 1794. African explorer1762 · Scottish National Portrait Gallery 33George Legge, Viscount Lewisham (1778) by Pompeo BatoniGeorge Legge, Viscount Lewisham1778 · Museo del Prado 34Thomas William Coke (1773) by Pompeo BatoniThomas William Coke1773 · Holkham Hall 35Portrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot (1773) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot1773 · J. Paul Getty Museum 36Christ in Glory with Saints Celsus, Julian, Marcionilla and Basilissa (1736) by Pompeo BatoniChrist in Glory with Saints Celsus, Julian, Marcionilla and Basilissa1736 · J. Paul Getty Museum 37Portrait of a man (1733) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of a man1733 38Portrait of Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown (1711-1783) (1744) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown (1711-1783)1744 · National Gallery of Ireland 39Time Revealing Truth (1742) by Pompeo BatoniTime Revealing Truth1742 · Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art 40Christ Appearing to St. Ampelius (1742) by Pompeo BatoniChrist Appearing to St. Ampelius1742 · Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art 41Saint John the Evangelist (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint John the Evangelist1741 · Basildon Park 42Saint Paul (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Paul1741 · Basildon Park 43God the Father and the Holy Spirit (1741) by Pompeo BatoniGod the Father and the Holy Spirit1741 · Basildon Park 44Saint James the Less (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint James the Less1741 · Basildon Park 45Saint Matthew (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Matthew1741 · Basildon Park 46Saint Philip (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Philip1741 · Basildon Park 47Saint Peter (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Peter1741 · Basildon Park 48Saint Thomas (1741) by Pompeo BatoniSaint Thomas1741 · Basildon Park 49Maddalena penitente (1742) by Pompeo BatoniMaddalena penitente1742 · Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden 50Apollo, Euterpe and Urania (1741) by Pompeo BatoniApollo, Euterpe and Urania1741 · Muzeum Palacu Króla Jana Iii w Wilanowie 51The Virgin of the Annunciation (1741) by Pompeo BatoniThe Virgin of the Annunciation1741 52Apollon, Euterpe and Urania (1741) by Pompeo BatoniApollon, Euterpe and Urania1741 53The Ecstasy of St Catherine of Siena (1743) by Pompeo BatoniThe Ecstasy of St Catherine of Siena1743 · Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi 54Elector Carl Theodor of the Palatinate (1747) by Pompeo BatoniElector Carl Theodor of the Palatinate1747 · Bavarian State Painting Collections 55Pope Pius VI (1747) by Pompeo BatoniPope Pius VI1747 · Bavarian State Painting Collections 56A Lady of the Leeson Family as a Shepherdess (1751) by Pompeo BatoniA Lady of the Leeson Family as a Shepherdess1751 · National Gallery of Ireland 57Presumed Portrait of the Marchesa Caterina Gabrielli as Diana (1751) by Pompeo BatoniPresumed Portrait of the Marchesa Caterina Gabrielli as Diana1751 · National Gallery of Ireland 58Joseph Leeson, later 2nd Earl of Milltown (1730-1801) (1751) by Pompeo BatoniJoseph Leeson, later 2nd Earl of Milltown (1730-1801)1751 · National Gallery of Ireland 59Study for "Antiochus and Stratonice" (1746) by Pompeo BatoniStudy for "Antiochus and Stratonice"1746 · Cleveland Museum of Art 60Vulcan at his Forge (1750) by Pompeo BatoniVulcan at his Forge1750 · National Gallery of Canada 61Purity of Heart (1752) by Pompeo BatoniPurity of Heart1752 · Uppark 62Meekness (1752) by Pompeo BatoniMeekness1752 · Uppark 63Sarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), with the Branch of a Pear (1751) by Pompeo BatoniSarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), with the Branch of a Pear1751 · Uppark 64Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Bt, MP (1714-1774) with Wreaths of Fruit and Corn (1751) by Pompeo BatoniSir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Bt, MP (1714-1774) with Wreaths of Fruit and Corn1751 · Uppark 65Sarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), as Diana (1751) by Pompeo BatoniSarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), as Diana1751 · Uppark 66Benjamin Lethieullier MP (1728/9-1797), with two Wild Boar Spears (1752) by Pompeo BatoniBenjamin Lethieullier MP (1728/9-1797), with two Wild Boar Spears1752 · Uppark 67Sir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Bt, MP (1714-1774) as a Hunter with a Wild Boar Spear (1751) by Pompeo BatoniSir Matthew Fetherstonhaugh, 1st Bt, MP (1714-1774) as a Hunter with a Wild Boar Spear1751 · Uppark 68Katherine Durnford, later Mrs Utrick Fetherstonhaugh, as Flora (1751) by Pompeo BatoniKatherine Durnford, later Mrs Utrick Fetherstonhaugh, as Flora1751 · Uppark 69The Reverend Utrick Fetherstonhaugh (1717/18-1788) as Apollo (1751) by Pompeo BatoniThe Reverend Utrick Fetherstonhaugh (1717/18-1788) as Apollo1751 · Uppark 70Lascelles Raymond Iremonger (1718/19–1793) with Wreaths of Corn and Roses (1751) by Pompeo BatoniLascelles Raymond Iremonger (1718/19–1793) with Wreaths of Corn and Roses1751 · Uppark 71Francis Hutchinson (d. 1807) (traditionally called John Hatch of Lissen Hall) (1747) by Pompeo BatoniFrancis Hutchinson (d. 1807) (traditionally called John Hatch of Lissen Hall)1747 · Hatchlands Park 72Portrait of Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1728-1793) (1755) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1728-1793)1755 · Landesmuseum Württemberg 73Hercules at the Crossroads (1753) by Pompeo BatoniHercules at the Crossroads1753 · Galleria Sabauda 74Vulcan in his Forge (1750) by Pompeo BatoniVulcan in his Forge1750 75Aeneas fleeing from Troy (1750) by Pompeo BatoniAeneas fleeing from Troy1750 · Galleria Sabauda 76Truth and Mercy (1745) by Pompeo BatoniTruth and Mercy1745 · Montreal Museum of Fine Arts 77Portrait of a Gentleman (1762) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of a Gentleman1762 · Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art 78Portrait of William Legge, Second Earl of Dartmouth (1756) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of William Legge, Second Earl of Dartmouth1756 · Hood Museum of Art 79Sir Robert Davers, 5th Bt (1729-1763), aged 21 (1756) by Pompeo BatoniSir Robert Davers, 5th Bt (1729-1763), aged 211756 · Ickworth 80George Lucy (1714 – 1786) (1758) by Pompeo BatoniGeorge Lucy (1714 – 1786)1758 · Charlecote Park 81Self portrait (1765) by Pompeo BatoniSelf portrait1765 · Bavarian State Painting Collections 82William Fermor (1758) by Pompeo BatoniWilliam Fermor1758 · Museum of Fine Arts 83Edward, Duke of York (1739-67) (1764) by Pompeo BatoniEdward, Duke of York (1739-67)1764 · Royal Collection 84Pope Benedict XIV presenting the Encyclical 'Ex Omnibus' to the Comte de Stainville, later Duc de Choiseul (1757) by Pompeo BatoniPope Benedict XIV presenting the Encyclical 'Ex Omnibus' to the Comte de Stainville, later Duc de Choiseul1757 · Minneapolis Institute of Art 85The Crucifixion (1762) by Pompeo BatoniThe Crucifixion1762 · Museum of Fine Arts 86Luigi Boccherini (1764) by Pompeo BatoniLuigi Boccherini1764 · National Gallery of Victoria 87Portrait of Prince Abbondio Rezzonico as Senator of Rome (1765) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Prince Abbondio Rezzonico as Senator of Rome1765 · Walters Art Museum 88portrait of a cardinal (1758) by Pompeo Batoniportrait of a cardinal1758 89Academic Nude (1765) by Pompeo BatoniAcademic Nude1765 90Elector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate (1775) by Pompeo BatoniElector Karl Theodor of the Palatinate1775 · Bavarian State Painting Collections 91Portrait of Pope Pius VI, Giovanni Angelo Braschi (1717-1799) (1775) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Pope Pius VI, Giovanni Angelo Braschi (1717-1799)1775 · National Gallery of Ireland 92Edward Howard (1744–1767) (1766) by Pompeo BatoniEdward Howard (1744–1767)1766 · Victoria and Albert Museum 93Bust-length portrait of Pope Clement XIII (1772) by Pompeo BatoniBust-length portrait of Pope Clement XIII1772 · Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister im Schloss Wilhelmshöhe 94Alexander Stewart of Ards (1746-1791) (1773) by Pompeo BatoniAlexander Stewart of Ards (1746-1791)1773 · Mount Stewart 95Self-portrait (1770) by Pompeo BatoniSelf-portrait1770 96Robert Throckmorton (1750-1779) (1772) by Pompeo BatoniRobert Throckmorton (1750-1779)1772 · Coughton Court 97The Right Hon. Sir John Parnell, 2nd Bt (1744–1801) (1769) by Pompeo BatoniThe Right Hon. Sir John Parnell, 2nd Bt (1744–1801)1769 · Castle Ward 98Study for the Portrait of Emperor Joseph II. (1769) by Pompeo BatoniStudy for the Portrait of Emperor Joseph II.1769 · Slovak National Gallery 99Portrait of John Corbet of Sundorne Castle, Shrewsbury (1773) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of John Corbet of Sundorne Castle, Shrewsbury1773 · Worcester Art Museum 100Portrait of Thomas Fortescue (1767) by Pompeo BatoniPortrait of Thomas Fortescue1767

Pompeo Batoni's famous paintings, period by period

Early Period

1733 – 1745 · 5 works in this list
The infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle (1743), Pompeo Batoni #19 The infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle 1743 · Palazzo Pitti Saint Andrew (1741), Pompeo Batoni #24 Saint Andrew 1741 · Art Institute of Chicago Christ in Glory with Saints Celsus, Julian, Marcionilla and Basilissa (1736), Pompeo Batoni #36 Christ in Glory with Saints Celsus, Julian, Marcionilla and Basilissa 1736 · J. Paul Getty Museum Portrait of a man (1733), Pompeo Batoni #37 Portrait of a man 1733 Truth and Mercy (1745), Pompeo Batoni #76 Truth and Mercy 1745 · Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Mature Period

1740 – 1782 · 93 works in this list
Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) (1748), Pompeo Batoni #1 Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) 1748 · Liechtenstein Museum A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts (1778), Pompeo Batoni #2 A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts 1778 · Museo del Prado Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768), Pompeo Batoni #3 Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni 1768 · National Gallery of Victoria Time Unveiling Truth (1742), Pompeo Batoni #4 Time Unveiling Truth 1742 · Art Institute of Chicago Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827) (1764), Pompeo Batoni #6 Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827) 1764 · Scottish National Gallery

The subjects that held Pompeo Batoni's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Man 77 works

Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768), Pompeo Batoni #3 Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni 1768 · National Gallery of Victoria Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827) (1764), Pompeo Batoni #6 Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827) 1764 · Scottish National Gallery John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1740 - 1804. Bibliophile (1761), Pompeo Batoni #7 John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1740 - 1804. Bibliophile 1761 · Scottish National Portrait Gallery Portrait of John Woodyeare (1750), Pompeo Batoni #8 Portrait of John Woodyeare 1750 · Minneapolis Institute of Art

Woman 28 works

Portrait of a Woman, traditionally identified as Margaret Stuart, Lady Hippisley (1785), Pompeo Batoni #5 Portrait of a Woman, traditionally identified as Margaret Stuart, Lady Hippisley 1785 · Yale Center for British Art Hercules at the Crossroads (1748), Pompeo Batoni #11 Hercules at the Crossroads 1748 · Liechtenstein Museum Hercules at the Crossroads (1742), Pompeo Batoni #12 Hercules at the Crossroads 1742 · Palazzo Pitti Hercules at the Crossroads (1765), Pompeo Batoni #13 Hercules at the Crossroads 1765 · Hermitage Museum

Dark background 16 works

The infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle (1743), Pompeo Batoni #19 The infant Hercules strangling serpents in his cradle 1743 · Palazzo Pitti Portrait of Joseph Henry of Straffan (1750), Pompeo Batoni #30 Portrait of Joseph Henry of Straffan 1750 · Walters Art Museum Saint John the Evangelist (1741), Pompeo Batoni #41 Saint John the Evangelist 1741 · Basildon Park The Virgin of the Annunciation (1741), Pompeo Batoni #51 The Virgin of the Annunciation 1741

Landscape 15 works

Peter Beckford (1740-1811), godsejer, Dorset. (1766), Pompeo Batoni #9 Peter Beckford (1740-1811), godsejer, Dorset. 1766 · Statens Museum For Kunst Philip Metcalfe (1766), Pompeo Batoni #22 Philip Metcalfe 1766 · National Portrait Gallery Portrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot (1773), Pompeo Batoni #35 Portrait of John Talbot, later 1st Earl Talbot 1773 · J. Paul Getty Museum Maddalena penitente (1742), Pompeo Batoni #49 Maddalena penitente 1742 · Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

The museums that keep Pompeo Batoni's originals

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Pompeo Batoni Paintings from this list
UpparkUppark 11 Purity of Heart, Meekness, Sarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), with the Branch of a Pear
Basildon ParkBasildon Park 9 Saint John the Evangelist, Saint Paul, God the Father and the Holy Spirit
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin CityNational Gallery of Ireland Dublin City 5 Portrait of Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown (1711-1783), A Lady of the Leeson Family as a Shepherdess, Presumed Portrait of the Marchesa Caterina Gabrielli as Diana
Bavarian State Painting Collections, MunichBavarian State Painting Collections Munich 4 Elector Carl Theodor of the Palatinate, Pope Pius VI, Self portrait
Liechtenstein Museum, ViennaLiechtenstein Museum Vienna 4 Hercules at the Crossroads (detail), Hercules at the Crossroads, Venus Presenting Aeneas with Armour Forged by Vulcan
Art Institute of Chicago, ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago Chicago 4 Time Unveiling Truth, Peace and War, Saint Andrew
National Gallery of Victoria, MelbourneNational Gallery of Victoria Melbourne 3 Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni, Sir Sampson Gideon and an unidentified companion, Luigi Boccherini
Walters Art Museum, BaltimoreWalters Art Museum Baltimore 3 Portrait of Cardinal Prospero Colonna di Sciarra, Portrait of Joseph Henry of Straffan, Portrait of Prince Abbondio Rezzonico as Senator of Rome

Pompeo Batoni across the decades: one unique original for each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

Pompeo Batoni's paintings: questions for the gallery

What is the single most famous work of Pompeo Batoni?Reveal the answer

Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) (1748), Liechtenstein Museum, Vienna. A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts (1778) and Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni (1768) come next.

At what age did Pompeo Batoni create Hercules at the Crossroads (detail)?Reveal the answer

40 years old: Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) dates from 1748, and Pompeo Batoni was born in 1708.

Which ten paintings by Pompeo Batoni are the most famous?Reveal the answer

Hercules at the Crossroads (detail), A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts, Gaetano II Sforza Cesarini, Duke of Segni, Time Unveiling Truth, Portrait of a Woman, traditionally identified as Margaret Stuart, Lady Hippisley, Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743 - 1827), John Ker, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe, 1740 - 1804. Bibliophile, Portrait of John Woodyeare, Peter Beckford (1740-1811), godsejer, Dorset. and The Rotterdam tobacco trader Pieter Caarten. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works by Pompeo Batoni are known?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 164 works by Pompeo Batoni, dated from 1733 to 1785.

Where can the most famous Pompeo Batoni originals be seen?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Uppark, Basildon Park and National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin City). The museum table above lists them all.

During which period did Pompeo Batoni create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1740s: 30 of the 100 works on this page were made then, Hercules at the Crossroads (detail) among them.

Which famous Pompeo Batoni painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Portrait of a man (1733) and the latest Portrait of a Woman, traditionally identified as Margaret Stuart, Lady Hippisley (1785).

What subjects did Pompeo Batoni favour?Reveal the answer

Man (77), Woman (28) and Dark background (16), across the 100 works on this page.

What materials did Pompeo Batoni paint with most?Reveal the answer

Oil On Canvas, for 76 of the 100 works on this page.

Which movement does the work of Pompeo Batoni belong to?Reveal the answer

Neoclassicism, judging by the originals on this page.

What Pompeo Batoni originals can I see at the Uppark?Reveal the answer

Purity of Heart, Meekness and Sarah Lethieullier, Lady Fetherstonhaugh (1722-1788), with the Branch of a Pear: the Uppark holds 10 of the works on this page.

Pompeo Batoni: a portrait of the artist

Early Life and Training

  • Born: Lucca, Italy (1708)
  • Died: 1787
  • Pompeo Batoni moved to Rome in 1727.
  • He apprenticed with Agostino Masucci, Sebastiano Conca, and/or Francesco Imperiali.
  • His first independent commission came as a result of rains that struck Rome in April 1732.
  • The painting "The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena" illustrates his academic refinement of the late-Baroque style.

Artistic Style and Influences

  • Batoni's style drew inspiration from classical antiquity, French Rococo, Bolognese Classicism, and artists such as Nicolas Poussin, Claude Lorrain, and especially Raphael.
  • He is considered a precursor of Neoclassicism.
  • His work can be found in various museums, including the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, Italy.

Notable Works and Commissions

  • Virgin and Child with Saints
  • A Knight in Rome: Charles Cecil Roberts – A celebrated portrait of a British traveler set against Roman ruins.
  • The Triumph of Venice
  • Numerous altarpieces for churches in Italy, such as the Museum Duomo in Siena.
  • He was in high demand for portraits, particularly by British travelers on the Grand Tour who commissioned standing portraits within antique settings.

Development and Historical Significance

  • Batoni became a highly fashionable painter in Rome after his rival, Anton Raphael Mengs, departed for Spain in 1761.
  • He befriended Winckelmann and aimed to restrain classicism in his painting.
  • His portraits captured the spirit of the Grand Tour era, reflecting the fascination with classical antiquity among European elites.
  • Batoni’s ability to blend Baroque techniques with emerging Neoclassical ideals positioned him as a transitional figure in Italian art history.

Legacy

  • Pompeo Batoni passed away on February 4, 1787, in Rome.
  • He left behind a legacy as one of the most renowned Italian painters of his time.
  • His work continues to be admired for its technical skill, elegant compositions, and insightful portrayals of individuals within their historical context.
All 164 works by Pompeo Batoni →