Caricature of Carlo Broschi (Farinelli) as Berenice in Vinci's Farnace, Rome 1724

Pier Leone Ghezzi was an Italian Rococo painter, draughtsman, printmaker and caricaturist who was mainly active in Rome. While he painted decorative frescoes and created a new type of anecdotal and realistic history painting, he is now mainly known for his caricatures of famous people of his time. He has been described as the first professional caricaturist. In his countless portrait drawings, he was able to capture the essence of the sitter with only a few strokes. He regularly portrayed a single figure with exaggerated anatomy and various eccentricities of clothing and posture. In group portraits he created a humoristic effect by repeating a strange stance or expression.