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Giovanni Battista PiranesiObelisco Egizio (Egyptian Obelisk) - Etching by G. B. Piranesi1759
1759
About the Item
Obelisco Egizio (The Egyptian Obelisk in the Piazza di S. Giovanni), erected by Pope Sixtus V, is a wonderful black and white etching on fine laid and watermarked paper (with a lily inside a double circle, watermark n. 3 according to Hind) realized by Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
Signed on plate on the lower right margin "Piranesi Architetto fec." and with the address and price at lower left. Hind 53, second state of five. A lifetime Roman impression, before the Paris editions.
Excellent condition, with central fold, as issued, visible only on the left margin.
From one of the most important series of etchings by G.B. Piranesi, Views of Rome drawn and etched by Giambattista Piranesi, Venetian Architect (1753), this wonderful specimen with a lifetime impression represents an Egyptian obelisk erected by Pope Sixtus V. This artwork has wide margins and a detailed caption (on plate) describing the monument.
Views of Rome
Executed over the course of Piranesi's long career, from the second half of the 1740s until his death, Views of Rome was printed and sold as individual sheets or in collections that gradually enlarged as his production progressed, and it occasionally included other print series as well. A posthumous edition, bearing the same title, consists of 135 prints engraved in 1778 plus 2 title pages. The additions consisted of Pianta di Roma e del Campo Marzio and 2 plates made by his son, Francesco Piranesi.
Background:
In 1740, Giovanni Battista Piranesi arrived in Rome for the first time and was left speechless by the Eternal City’s outstanding beauty. He did apprenticeships with Valeriani’s and then with Giuseppe Vasi’s workshops. The Sicilian engraver and vedutist Giuseppe Vasi taught Piranesi the etching technique, transferring his passion for graphic art to the Venetian old master.
Reference:
A. Hind, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, A Critical Study, Holland Press, London, 1922, n. 53;
L. Ficacci, Piranesi, The Complete Etching, Taschen, p. 703, n. 902.
- Creator:Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778, Italian)
- Creation Year:1759
- Dimensions:Height: 30.32 in (77 cm)Width: 21.26 in (54 cm)Depth: 0.04 in (1 mm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:1750-1759
- Framing:Framing Options Available
- Condition:Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contact us for more information.
- Gallery Location:Roma, IT
- Reference Number:
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Piranesi was born in Venice in 1720 and died in Rome in 1778. He was the son of a stone mason and was trained as an architect. After a slow start he eventually achieved great success as an architect, archaeologist, artist, designer, collector, and antiquities dealer. His mission was to glorify the architecture of ancient Rome through his engravings and etchings. His highly dramatized prints often depict imaginary interiors and frequently include figures in mysterious activities, who are dwarfed by the magnitude of their monumental surroundings. Piranesi's style greatly influenced the neoclassical art movement of the late 18th century. His dramatic scenes inspired generations of set designers, as well as artists, architects and writers. His prints have continued to increase in value to institutions and collectors.
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