Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome: A Framed 18th Century Etching by Piranesi

1750

$2,975
£2,226.74
€2,573.03
CA$4,125.33
A$4,620.90
CHF 2,402.36
MX$57,058.86
NOK 30,604.13
SEK 28,931.44
DKK 19,201.34
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta della Basilica di S. Lorenzo fuor della mura" (Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls), published in Rome in 1750 in Piranesi's Vedute di Roma (Views of Rome), This etching depicts the Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls, which is a Roman Catholic papal basilica and parish church, located in Rome, Italy. The Basilica is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and one of the five "papal basilicas". It was built as a shrine to the martyred Roman deacon St. Lawrence. This Piranesi etching is held by many museums and institutions, including: The Metropolitan Museum, The British Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Yale University Art Gallery, and The Harvard Museum of Art. This magnificent etching is presented in a brown-colored wood frame and a tan French mat. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. The frame measures 23.13" high by 33" wide by 0.5" deep. There is spotting, most noticeable in the sky in the scene. Piranesi began collecting, restoring and selling ancient architectural objects in the 1760's in partnership with Thomas Jenkins and Gavin Hamilton, who had financed numerous excavations in the Pantanello area of Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli. In 1768 Piranesi began creating etchings depicting these objects. The plates were eventually published together as a set in 1778 in "Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi". Piranesi dedicated many of the plates to patrons, colleagues, good customers and influential people. Many of the antiquities shown in Vasi were eventually sold to King Gustav III of Sweden by Piranesi's son, Francesco Piranesi, after his father’s death, and now reside in the National Museum in Stockholm. 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 was knighted by the Pope in 1765 and he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in England in 1757. 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. References: Wilton-Ely 1994 211 Focillon 1918 760 Hind 1922 78
  • Creator:
    Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778, Italian)
  • Creation Year:
    1750
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 23.13 in (58.76 cm)Width: 33 in (83.82 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
    1750-1759
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Alamo, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: # 26561stDibs: LU1173210836412

More From This Seller

View All
Church of St. Costanza, Rome: An 18th Century Piranesi Architectural Etching
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a framed 18th century Giovanni Battista Piranesi etching entitled: "Veduta interna del Sepocro di Santa Costanza, fabbricat...
Category

1770s Old Masters Interior Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Temple Architecture: An 18th Century Framed Etching by Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta del Tempio detto della Tosse su la Via Tiburtina, un miglio vicino a Tivoli" (View of the so-called Tem...
Category

1760s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Hadrian's Mausoleum, Castel S. Angelo: A Framed 18th Century Etching by Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta del Mausoleo d'Elio Adriana ora chiamato Castello S. Angelo nella parte opposta alla Facciata de...
Category

1750s Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Architecture: Original Framed 18th C. Etching by G. Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
"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...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching, Engraving, Drypoint

The Roman Colosseum: A Framed 18th Century Etching of the Interior by Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
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...
Category

1760s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Ancient Roman Architecture: Framed Original 18th C. Etching by G. Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
"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...
Category

1770s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

You May Also Like

Veduta della Basilica di S. Paolo Fuor delle Mura - Etching
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Roma, IT
Etching on laid and watermarked paper (a double circles visible near the bell tower). 38 th Plate from the series " Views of Rome". Signed on plate on lower-left margin "Piranesi F....
Category

1740s Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

View of Castello dell'Acqua Felice - Etching by G. B. Piranesi - 1751
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Roma, IT
View of Castel of Acqua Felice is an original etching realized by the italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1751. Very precoius and rare lifetime impression. Roman edition. I...
Category

1750s Old Masters Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

The Basilica of Constantine
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Chicago, IL
A very fine impression of the 3rd State, still with the address and price which were eliminated in the following 4th state. The presence of the address and price confirms that this ...
Category

18th Century and Earlier Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching

View of the Capitoline Hill - Etching by G. B. Piranesi - 1775
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Roma, IT
View of the Capitoline Hill is an original etching realized by the italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1775. Very precious and rare lifetime impression. Roman edition. II ...
Category

1770s Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Temples of Iside and Serapi - Etching by G. B. Piranesi - 1759
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Roma, IT
Temples of Iside and Serapi is an etching realized by the italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1759. Image dimensions: 41.5 x 55.5 cm. Very precious lifetime impression. C...
Category

1750s Figurative Prints

Materials

Etching

Veduta delle Antiche Sostruzioni, Vintage Cityscape Etching by Giovanni Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Italian (1720 - 1788) Title: Veduta delle Antiche Sostruzioni Portfolio: Vedute di Roma Year: 1776 Medium: Etching ...
Category

1770s Old Masters Landscape Prints

Materials

Etching