CALAMATTA, LUIGI. – Engraver and lithographer, born in Civitavecchia on 21 June 1801 or 12 June 1802; died in Milan on 8 March 1869. From 1822 he lived chiefly in Paris, where he was an enthusiastic follower of Ingres, and in Brussels, where for many years he taught the art of engraving with the burin. Returning to Italy, he took part in the campaign of 1866. His work, consisting of about eighty burin engravings reproducing paintings by Ingres, works by great Italian masters, and several autograph portraits, is noteworthy for its softness and variety of draughtsmanship.
BIBL.: R. Oietti, L. C. incisore, Roma 1874; L. Alvain, Notice sur L. C. graveur, suivie du catologue de l'oeuvre du maître, Bruxelles 1882; V. CARRACCI, L. C. incisore, Civitavecchia 1886; G. Geffray, s. V. in Thieme-Becker, V, pp. 367-368 (with bibliography). Amalia Mezzetti