The Rape of Proserpine

The son of a military engineer, Davide Antonio Fossati left his native Canton of Ticino in 1720 and travelled to Venice to live with his wealthy merchant uncle, also called Davide. The intention was that Davide Antonio should become his uncle's assistant, but when the boy showed more inclination for painting, he was apprenticed to the priest Vincenzo Maria Mariotti (d. 1738) and later studied with Daniel Gran (1694-1757). He came to specialise in fresco and perspective painting and became a member of the Venetian Accademia di Belle Arti in 1775 and of the Collegio dei Pittori di Venezia in 1778. He also acted as a picture dealer, which may be how he came into contact with John Strange and Künhans.