Giovanni Francesco Costa - Palazzo del N. H. Antelmi aan de Brenta

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.

Venice during the peak of its power.

Giovanni Francesco Costa was a multi-talented professional in the realms of architecture and stage design, primarily known for his contributions to the Venetian art landscape. He is particularly notable as an etcher, renowned for his depictions of 140 landscapes featured in the two-volume set titled 'Le Delizie del fiume Brenta,' published in 1750 and 1756. In addition to his work as an etcher, Costa's artistic endeavors extended to other domains. His contributions encompassed writings and designs related to architecture, perspective, and inventive creations inspired by the Roman architectural style.