Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Prospetto della medesima Sedia Curale, Veduta della parte... - Etching 1778

1778

English Title: Ancient Tripod Store in the Capitoline Museums... Artist proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, wide margins, representing a “tripod from Villa lanti, Gianicolo (Rome)”. Etching with strong contrasts and sharp details. with a dedication to “Cavaliere Edward Walter”. Signed on plate "Cavalier Piranesi del. e inc.". Good condition, lightly worn paper, normal folds and little holes on higher margin due to the binding of the volume “Vases and Candelabras...

Candelabrum base ornamented with various arabesques Artist proof, printed on contemporary watermarked paper, wide margins, representing a “candelabrum base ornamented with various arabesques” in P.ce Lanti, Roma. Etching with good contrasts and sharp details.Signed on plate “Cavalier Piranesi F..” on lower-left margin. Good conditions, with usual fold, some foxing and little holes in higher margin due to the binding of the volume “Vases and Candelabras...

Antique Vases Artist proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, wide margins, representing two antique vases, whom details are in the captures. Etching with good contrasts and sharp ...

Section for the place of the boat. Wonderful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, wide margins, representing a “section for the place of the boat”. Etching with good contrasts ...

"A sua Eccellenza il Signor Henry Hope Cav. Scozzese Amatore delle Belle Arti from "Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne, Ed Ornamenti Antichi", (Vases, candelabra, grave stones, sarcophagi, tripods, lamps, and ancient ornaments) is an etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, published in 1778. It depicts stone caryatids...

Camera sepolcrale Etching 1743 Signed in the bottom left corner From: Prima Parte, 1743 Second edition: 1750-1778 Watermark: R 37-39 A lifetime impression printed during Piranesi’s life, before the plates are moved to Paris by his sons in the 1790’s Condition: Excellent Image size: 14 5/8 x 9 3/4 inches Reference: Robison 20 iii/V Piranesi In Rome: Prima Parte di Architetture e Prospettive "Although Piranesi studied architecture in Venice, he never was able to find work in the field other than a few jobs involving remodeling in Rome. While Piranesi was struggling to support his architectural endeavors upon his arrival in Rome in 1740, he spent a short period of time in the studio of master painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) in addition to his apprenticeship with Giuseppe Vasi. The first production of Piranesi’s early years in Rome and a culmination of his training under Vasi, Tiepolo, and his uncle, was the Prima Parte di Architetture e Prospettive (1743). The Prima Parte was a collection of twelve etchings of imaginary temples, palaces, ruins, and a prison. During this time, Piranesi was still developing the unique style of etching he is known for today, and as such the Prima Parte differs significantly in technique compared to later works. In the Frontispiece of the Prima Parte, Piranesi’s lines are definite and exact with very little flow to them, designed in the form of traditional etching. The detail is immaculate, and yet perspective of the piece is oddly simple and familiar to the viewer. Piranesi’s technique employs miniscule markings and lines, intricately woven together to create a stippling effect. The Prima Parte, described as “rigid” by art historian Jonathan Scott, came to be seen as a stark contrast to his later sketches, which were much lighter and freer. Influenced by the style of Tiepolo, which epitomized the lightness and brightness of the Rococo period, Piranesi adopted some of the more painterly techniques of the masters he apprenticed under. Piranesi made the medium of etching appear as though it was a sketch or a painting, hence a “freer” and more fluid design in his later works. For example, the frontispiece of the Prima Parte read as an etching to Piranesi’s audience, but in his later vedute, the style of etching almost appears to be made of brushstrokes. Moreover, at the same time Piranesi was working on the Prima Parte, he aided the artist Giambattista Nolli. There is a small section of Nolli’s map...

G. B. Piranesi in his fifties was interested in archaeology and studied in Southern Italy where he produced drawings of Greek architecture

"Veduta del Sepolcro della Famiglia Plauzia per la Strada Che Conduce da Roma a Tivoli vicino a Ponte Lugano" from "Le Antichità Romane" (Roman Antiquities), one of the most famous works by Piranesi. "Antichita" illustrates the tombs along the Appian Way...