Giovanni Punto (a.k.a. Jan Vaclav Stich, Johann Wenzel Stich) was a virtuoso hornist who traveled most of Europe performing as a soloist and court musician. He also composed many original works to display his unique virtuosity. Also an excellent violin player, Punto held positions in several orchestras as concertmaster.

He was so famous in his day that at the premiere in 1800 of the Beethoven Horn Sonata Op. 17 (with a young Beethoven at the piano), a music critic wrote, "Who is this Beethovener [sic]? His name is not well known in musical circles. Of course Punto is very well known."

Image from copperplate engraving (1782).