Biography Caspar van Wittel (1653–1736) was a Dutch painter and draughtsman who had a long career in Rome, Papal States. He played a pivotal role in the development of the genre of topographical painting known as *veduta*, transforming it into a painterly specialism in Italian art. Born Jasper Adriaensz van Wittel in Amersfoort, he received his first training at the workshop of Thomas Jansz van Veenendaal and later with Matthias Withoo…