Giovanni Battista Piranesi

18th Century Etching of Ancient Roman Architectural Objects by Giovanni Piranesi

1778

This is a framed original satirical etching/engraving by William Hogarth, entitled "Some Principal Inhabitants of ye Moon: Royalty, Episcopacy and Law", originally published in London in 1760.The inscription reads: ""Some of the principal inhabitants of [the] moon as they were perfectly discover'd by a telescope brought to [the] greatest perfection since [the] last eclipse; exactly engraved from the objects whereby [the] curious may guess at their religion, manners, &c.". Although this may be an original life-time printing, it may have been published by Baldwin Craddock and Joy in London in 1822 from Hogarth's original copper plate that was reworked where needed by Heath, referred to as the Heath edition. This publication was the last time that Hogarth's plates were used for a printing. Most were subsequently destroyed and those remaining are primarily held by institutions. The scene is presented within a circle, as if seen through a telescope viewing the moon, surrounded by a square border, under which is engraved the title. The figures, who are satirically supposed to be the inhabitants of the moon, sit on a wooden platform suspended above the clouds. Three seated figures are supposed to represent the "Monarchy, Episcopacy, and Law". "Monarchy", representing royalty, sits on a throne wears a crown and he holds a globe and a sceptre. His face is a gold coin. The symbol of perpetuity, is embroidered on the cloth under his throne. "Episcopacy", representing the church, is operating a pump by pulling on a bell-rope fastened around a bible attached to the pump handle. The pump pours out money into a chest representing the church coffers and wealth. The chest is decorated with an armorial escutcheon, containing a knife and fork, topped by a church leader's mitre. Episcopacy's face is a Jew’s Harp and his right foot rests on a pile of three cushions. A cloven foot is seen protruding from under his religious robe. "Law" wears the type of wig worn by 18th century English judges. He holds a large sword on the right, but he does not appear to have a left arm. His face is a hammer resembling that of the Viking god Thor. Behind him a dagger appears to be thrust through the bottom of a sieve. The bodies of the attendants on Monarchy are composed of circular fire-screens, resembling shields. The trunks of the Courtiers are large looking-glasses, the sconces, with candles in them serving for hands and arms. The face of the chief of these is the reverse of a sixpence; and a key significantly appended to his sash at once denotes his sex and office. Under the figure of Law are a male and female modishly dressed. Her head is a tea-pot, her neck is a drinking-glass and her body is a half open fan. The male figure's face is a coat of arms and his legs are fan sticks. He appears to be courting the female. There is a great deal of satirical symbolism in this print and their meaning is not always obvious. Hogarth may have planned to include an explanation since there are letters a, b, c, d, e, f and g placed over or under some of the figures and objects. The reference books by Ronald Paulson, such as "Hogarth's Graphic Works, provide some possible interpretations. The print is presented in an ornate glossy black wood frame with beaded gold-colored outer and inner trim, a beaded gold-colored fillet and a cream-colored silk mat. There is a small defect in the frame's right upper edge. The print was not examined out of the frame, but the visible portions of the print are in excellent condition. The frame and mat style are identical to another old master print listed on 1stdibs, a 17th century portrait of the old master artist Petrus de Jode by Anthony van Dyck. This print can be viewed by placing the 1stdibs reference # LU117327129592 in the search field. These two framed prints would make a striking display grouping. A discount is available for purchase of the pair. Artist: William Hogarth (1697-1764) was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic, and editorial cartoonist. Hogarth's work was extremely diverse, ranging from serious realistic paintings and portraits to satire and moralistic pieces filled with symbolism. He often communicated his moral message in a series of paintings and engravings, such as: A Rake's Progress, Marriage A...

This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi is entitled "Vaso antico di Marmo adornato di eccellenti Sculture si nella parte anteriere che nell' opposta, le ...

This is a framed 18th century Giovanni Battista Piranesi etching entitled: "Veduta interna del Sepocro di Santa Costanza, fabbricat...

"Vaso Cinerario di Gran Mole. Le Teste dei Giovenchi mostrano di reggere it pesante Festone composto di Frutti Fiori Grans ed use. Il tuto Necefsario all Vita Umana. Il Restante degl...

This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta dell'interno dell'Anfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo" (View of the interior of the Flavian Amph...

This large 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi is entitled "Vaso antico di Marmo adornato di eccellenti Sculture si nella parte anteriere che nell' opposta, le quail r...

Etching on thin, cream laid paper 4 x 3 5/8 inches (100 x 90 mm), with narrow margins, trimmed inside the platemark. Adhesive residue at the top right and left corners, and archival ...

An Oriental Shop. 1890. Etching. Wisselingh 11. 5 5/8 x 4 1/8 (sheet 12 9/16 x 9 1/8). Number 21. A rich, tonal impression printed on Strasbourg laid paper with a partial watermark...

Circle of or a follower of Ferdinand Bol - (1616-1680) (PHILOSOPHER READING) ca 1700 Etching on thin laid paper attached to support sheet at the top sh...

Bartsch 281, Hind 167 iii/III, Nowell-Usticke 281, iii/III. A fine impression, with burr, as retouched by Baillie in 1792. With an unidentified collectors stamp, verso.

The Death of the Virgin is an etching with drypoint tweaks on wire rod double filigree paper, realized in 1639 by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (Leiden, 1606 - Amsterdam, 1669). Probable specimen of III state on three (according to White & Boon), IV on four (following Biörklund-Barnard). Signature and date on plate on the lower left corner “Rembrandt f. 1639". The paper has a cluster watermark with symmetrical elements in the center (similar to Ash Grapes B.a.) and a second watermark written on 4 lines (perhaps identifiable with Ash Words C.a.). Superb specimen on doubly watermarked paper: the first on four lines dating back to around 1764 and widely diffused in Normandy and Germany; the second, clustered, traced back to the second decade of the 17th century. Sheet characterized by a legible and appreciable impression for the chiaroscuro; good conditions of conservation, even though some thinning is reported, in particular along the left margin and on the lower left corner, together with small gaps visible on the back and a superficial deposit of particles. Reference: Gersaint 1751, p. 71, n. 97; Bartsch 99; Hind 1924, n. 161; Biörklund-Barnard 1957, n. 39, IV; New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish), n. 173 (Rembrandt); Hinterding et al. 2000 n. 32.III; White & Boon 1969, n. 99.III. One of the most interesting works with a religious subject by the great old master, for both the compositional freedom and the technical expertise. We do not know who the customer was; it could have been a Catholic client, but this hypothesis seems to be at least doubtful precisely because of the peculiarity with which the episode is narrated. Certainly, this artwork is linked to a precise market request, given its size - this is the second largest incision of the artist - and the commitment to such an important work. A more detailed description of this religious event is described particularly well in the Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varagine, a guiding text in the Middle Ages for all the artists who wanted to portray the Death of the Virgin: an angel appeared to Mary announcing her imminent death. It is told that the Apostles, dispersed in the four corners of the world to proclaim the Gospel, were miraculously transported to Mount Zion to be near them. Disagreeing with other exegetes, Hinterding claims that Rembrandt knew the Legenda but was inspired by it in an original way, combining two moments in a single choral scene. Indeed, the scene depicted by the artist takes place in the bedroom of the Virgin: the angel appears at the top, accompanied by the cherubs, while the Apostles gather around her bed. For this marvelous etching, in addition to the aforementioned text by the Dominican friar da Varagine, Rembrandt certainly also looked at two fundamental works (to understand the genesis of the composition): the Death of the Virgin by Albrecht Dürer, from the silographic series of the Life of the Virgin, of which he owned a specimen, perhaps bought at auction in 1638, and a stained glass window designed by Dirck Pietersz Crabeth (1501-1574), in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. From Crabeth, he took the figure in the foreground that is reading the Holy Scriptures, perhaps the personification of the Church, and the canopy bed that stands out at the center of the scene. The young man with long hair described on the right, perhaps San Giovanni Evangelista, is instead a quotation from the Adoration of the Magi (1513) by Lucas Van Leyden, an artist much appreciated by Rembrandt. In Rembrandt's version of Mary's farewell, there are not only the Apostles: around her there are men and women, young and old, someone, intrigued, peeks out from behind the bed or a curtain, in the background, on the right, others pray kneeling...

Image dimensions: 15 x 12 cm. Scène de bistrot is a black and white etching with burin interventions on paper realized by an anonymous artist, after the Flemish artist Adrian Van Ostade...