Lot 1188 Dα

Pietro Gonzaga studied in Venice under Antonio Visentini and moved to Milan in 1772, where he joined the studio of the Galliari brothers and painted stage decorations for the Teatro alla Scala. Gonzaga also designed sets for the Teatro Argentina in Rome as of 1780, and it was here that he came into contact with the works of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and the group of architects and painters surrounding the Académie de France who were also influenced by Piranesi's works. In 1792 he participated in the inaugration of the Teatro Fenice in Venice, where he later created a number of famous sets. In Venice he became acquainted with the Russian envoy and director of the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg and he was then invited to this city, where he enjoyed great fame and resided until his death.