Giovanni Agnolo, a designer and engraver, born at Rome in 1617. He was a pupil of Domenichino, and afterwards of Barbalunga. He painted some good altar pieces at Rome, including two fine pictures for the church of St Martino a Monti, representing the Martyrdom of St Stephen and of St Bartholomew. Having accompanied Car- dinal Chigi to France, he was encouraged by the minister Colbert to carry into execution his project of designing from medals, antique gems, and similar sources, a series of portraits of the most illustrious characters of antiquity, accompanied with memoirs; but shortly after the commencement of the undertaking, Canini died at Rome, in his 48th year. The work, however, was prosecuted by his brother Marcantonio, who, with the assistance of Picard and Valet, completed and published it in 1699, under the title of Iconografia di Gio. Ag. Canini. The engravings amount to 150, and a curious explanation is given, which attests the learning and taste of the brothers Canini. A reprint of this work in Italian and French appeared at Amsterdam in 1731.