Anton Maria Zanetti

Antonio Maria Zanetti (the younger), also Anton Maria Zanetti, (1706–1778) was a Venetian art historian, noted for his knowledge of antiquities, numismatics, statues, cameos, and sculpted gems. He was skilled in architecture and perspective and was an expert in music. As custodian of the Marciana Library (1737–1778), he compiled the first modern catalogues of the manuscript collection with detailed bibliographical information.

Life Antonio Maria was born in the parish of San Giacomo dell'Orio in Venice on 1 January 1706. He was the elder of two sons. The family of his father, Alessandro Zanetti, belonged to the citizen class, whereas the family of his mother, Antonia Limonti, originated in Milan. At an unknown later date, the family transferred to the parish of Santa Maria Mater Domini. As a youth, Antonio Maria studied with the Jesuits. He had a particular aptitude for the classics and over time, became proficient in Greek. He also learned to paint under the guidance of Nicolò Bambini. During this time, Zanetti was also tasked by Lorenzo Tiepolo, the state librarian, with compiling a complete two-volume catalogue with detailed descriptions of the 224 statues belonging to the Public Statuary, located within the Marciana Library.

In 1736, Tiepolo also asked Zanetti, together with Antonio Bongiovanni, to catalogue the manuscripts in the library.

The Dano-Norwegian coat of arms offered by Frederick V and rejected by the Zanetti cousins.

On 4 November 1750, in response to Zanetti and his homonymous cousin having dedicated a book to his father Christian VI, King Frederick V of Denmark and Norway awarded each of them a gold medal adorned with diamonds, and also offered noble status, along with a grant of arms, in Denmark and Norway. However, learning of the fees involved, the Zanetti cousins returned the letters patent to Copenhagen, explaining that they didn't see themselves served with other nobility than the one that the emperor had granted to their ancestors.

Works Descrizione delle pubbliche pitture di Venezia (1733) Delle antiche statue greche e romane, che nell'antisala della Libreria di San Marco, e in altri luoghi pubblici di Venezia si trovano, vol I, (1740) Delle antiche statue greche e romane, che nell'antisala della Libreria di San Marco, e in altri luoghi pubblici di Venezia si trovano, vol II, (1743) Varie pitture a fresco de' principali maestri veneziani (1760) Della pittura veneziana e delle opere pubbliche de' veneziani maestri (1771)