Historical Events Feb 9 Thomas Otway's "Venice Preserved" premieres in London Famous Birthdays Feb 13 Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, Italian Rococo painter of religious subjects and genre scenes (Fortune Teller), born in Venice (d. 1754) Feb 25 Giovanni Battista Morgagni, Italian anatomist (d. 1771) Famous Deaths Feb 23 Abraham de Wicquefort, Dutch diplomat and historian, dies at 75 Feb 25 Alessandro Stradella, Italian violinist and composer, murdered at 38 1681 History by Year 1683