Alexander visits the tomb of Achilles

On his arrival in Rome in 1711, he was already expert in painting architectures, thanks to the methodical study of the theoretical treatises on perspective and the likely collaboration with painters of “quadrature” active in his home region. Taken by artist Benedetto Luti under his guidance shortly after the arrival in the papal capital, Pannini dedicated himself to studying figure painting, to complete his training, knowing how important this was in an artistic environment still dominated by a hierarchy of pictorial genres. In 1719 he was admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke, where he was appointed teacher of perspective. From this point on, his career was studded with major public and private commissions and official recognition, such as the appointment as Knight of the Golden Spur in 1749 and the election as prince of the Academy, in 1754.
The picture shown here is the pièce de reception donated by the artist at the time of his entrance to the academy, according to the practice whereby each newly elected member was required to donate a work to increase the academic collections.