Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Obelisco Egizio (Egyptian Obelisk) from Vedute di Roma Etching by Piranesi

1759-1778

Castello Sant Angelo from "Vedute di Roma" by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. 2nd Roman state, 1754. Etching on laid paper with a watermark of a Fleur-de-Lys in a double circle with CB a...

Engraving of Veduta della Piazza di S. Marco, versoil Canale by Pierre van der Aa. Printed in 1722. Unsigned. Unframed. Image size, 11 x 13 5/8 in. Has the original center crease.

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...

This early 19th century etching entitled "Veduta dello scavo del Foro Trajano" was created by Luigi Rossini and included in his publication "Le Antichita Romane" (The Rome of Antiquity), published in Rome in 1823. It depicts the historical victory column of Trajan standing amidst the rubble of broken columns that remain around it. The etching is presented in a black wood frame with a light brown outer mat and a dark brown inner mat. There are several frame abrasions. The print and mats are in very good condition. The frame measures 27" high, 29.07" wide and 0.5" deep. The print is framed and matted in the identical style as the another etching of an ancient Roman landmark, the Piazza Navona, which is also listed on 1stdibs, see item # LU117326144172. The pair would make an attractive display grouping of Roman architecture. A discount is available for purchase of the pair of prints. Luigi Rossini (1790-1857) like his predecessors, Giovanni Piranesi (1720–1778) and Giuseppi Vasi (1710-1782), was an architect and artist. Like Piranesi and Vasi, he wanted to glorify the architecture of ancient Rome, which he felt was deteriorating and needed to be documented. Several of the ruins he illustrated have, in fact, since disappeared leaving only his images as a record of their appearance. His images of the grand edifices of the city dramatically depict the power and glory...