Giovanni Battista Piranesi

XXXIII Fig. I Avanzo del Tempio di Castore e Polluce

1756

Ruine di Sepolcro antico Etching, 1743 Signed in the plate bottomleft in the caaption plate 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 Coniditon: Excellent/Very good Image size: 14 5/8 x 9 3/4 inches Reference: Robison 17 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...

View of the Ancient Structure built by Tarquinius Superbus called the Bel Lido, and like others built by Marcus Agrippa in the time of Augustus when he cleaned all the sewers leading...

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...

S. Paolo Fuori Le Mura (Vedute della Basilica di S. Paolo fuor della mura) Etching, 1748 From: Vedute di Roma, Plate 8 An early Roman printing, published by Bouchard e Gravier Watermark: Fleur de Lys in a double circle Signed in the plate Condition: Small margins as are common with Bouchard published impressions. Centerfold (as usual) Rich impression with good contrasts Plate/Image size: 15 7/8 x 24 1/8 inches Sheet size: 17 3/8 x 24 3/4 inches Reference: Focillon 723 Wilton-Ely 138 Hind 6 ii/VI, Bouchard e Gravier printing, before the price and numbers in later states This image is Piranesi’s second interior scene from the Vedute di Roma. The first interior is a less complex composition of the Interior of St. Peters which lacks the challenging perspective that the artist masters in this image. The Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls...

Image dimensions 40x60. Veduta degli Avanzi sopra terra dell’antico Ustrino (View of the visible remains of the ancient crematorium) is a wonderful black and white etching on thick...

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...

GIOVANNI BATTISTA PIRANESI (Italian 1720-1778) VEDUTA del SEPOLCRO della Famiglia PLAUZIA per la strada che Conduce da Roma a Tivoli vicino a Ponte Lugan...

Image dimensions 40.6x56.8. Belongs to the Collection "Antiquities of Cori, described and etched by Giovambat Piranesi", and printed in 1764. Beautiful first roman edition/1st state ...