The Body of Saint Catherine of Siena carried in Procession, after Francesco Vanni

Printmaking in woodcut and engraving came to Northern Italy within a few decades of their invention north of the Alps. Engraving probably came first to Florence in the 1440s, the goldsmith Maso Finiguerra (1426–64) used the technique. Italian engraving caught the very early Renaissance, 1460–1490. Print copying was a widely accepted practice, as well as copying of paintings viewed as images in their own right.

Charles-Joseph Natoire was a French painter who was born on 3 March 1700 in Nîmes, France. He was known for his decorative paintings and his work in the Rococo style. Natoire studied under François Lemoyne in Paris and won the Prix de Rome in 1721, which enabled him to study in Italy for four years. On his return to France, Natoire became a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and worked on several important commissions for the French court. His works often depicted mythological and allegorical scenes, as well as portraits of members of the aristocracy. Natoire was also an accomplished draughtsman and produced many drawings and sketches throughout his career. He was known for his use of delicate colours and intricate detail in his paintings, which helped to create a sense of elegance and refinement. In addition to his work as a painter, Natoire was also the director of the French Academy in Rome from 1751 to 1775. He died on 23 August 1777 in Castel Gandolfo, Italy.