Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) was an Italian artist, architect, and printmaker known for his intricate etchings of Rome’s ancient ruins and his visionary, often fantastical architectural compositions. His Vedute di Roma captured the grandeur of the Eternal City, while his Carceri d’Invenzione series depicted labyrinthine, imaginary prisons that influenced generations of artists and writers. Piranesi’s work blended archaeological precision with dramatic perspective, leaving a lasting impact on neoclassicism and the Romantic movement.
​
Most of the pieces of the Collection owned by Translating Art come from the family of the Duke of Welllington. Over the years, we organised several art shows centered on the masterpieces of Piranesi, with the most notable one being the Casa Italia one for the XXVI Summer Olympics games in Atlanta, USA, in 1996.
Veduta del Sito, ov'era l'antico Foro Romano
Etching on paper From the series of etchings “Antichità Romane” (Roman Antiquities, 1756), called in the first edition ”Views of Rome drawn and etched by Giambattista Piranesi, Venetian Architect”.
Wonderful etching representing the Roman Forum at the middle of XVIII century. With an interesting and detailed capture (on plate) pointing out the Temple of Castor and Pollux, and S. Maria Liberatrice in foreground, S. Teodoro in middle distance and Monte Aventino in distance.
View of the ancient Roman Forum is in good condition, with some foxing and an unperfect clean of the plate. In 1740 Giovanni Battista Piranesi arrived in Rome for the first time and was astonished by the Eternal City’s beauty. He served an apprenticeship before with the Valeriani’s workshop, and after with Giuseppe Vasi’s one. The Sicilian engraver and vedutist taught him the etching technique, conveying his graphic art’s passion to the Venetian old master.
Ref: A. Hind, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, A Critical Study, Holland Press, London, 1922, pag. 50, n. 41; H. Focillon, 801; L. Ficacci, Piranesi, The Complete Etching, Taschen, pag.700 fig. 897
(1756) cm 37.5 x 58.7/ cm 47.5 x 64.3
Dimostrazioni dell'Emissario del Lago Albano
Etching on paper Etching, Drypoint, Burin on laid paper. Signed on plate lower-right in the cartouche “Piranesi F.”, and titled on plate in the same cartouche. In good condition, except a normal fold at the center and some ripples on margins.
Fine Artist’s Proof by the Venetian Old Master, from “Descrizione e Disegno dell’Emissario del Lago albano di Gio Battista Piranesi” (Description and Design of the Emissarium of Lake Albano by Gio Batta Piranesi), published in two editions: 1762 (Rome), 1764 (Paris).
Signed on plate “Piranesi F.” Ref: L. Ficacci, Piranesi, The Complete Etching, Taschen, pag.440, n. 544; Focillon 491.
(1762-64) cm 40.5 x 55.5/ cm 58.3 x 79
Carcere XIII
​Etching on coeval paper. Signed on plate “Piranesi F.” lower-right. Very good condition, except a normal central fold and some burnishings beyond the margin line.
Wonderful etching, thirteenth plate from “Fanciful Images of Prisons, etchings published by Giovani Buzard in Rome, conducting business on the Corso”. Very Precious and Rare Speciment of First State/II. Image of Prisons, better known as “Carceri d’invenzione” is a masterpiece in composition of space, that will influence the future generation of Romantics, Surrealists and artists like Escher.
Ref: L. Ficacci, Piranesi, The complete Etchings, Taschen, pag.149, fig.n. 122.
(1749-50) c.a. cm 40 x 54.5/ cm 48.8 x 63.3 Etching on paper
Avanzi di antiche terme
Etching on paper Ancient Baths in Albano called Cello Majo is an etching, drypoint and burin on laid and watermarked paper (lily in a double cercle).
Wonderful Specimen of a Roman antique edition. From the series of Piranesi’s etchings “Antichità di Albano e di Castel Gandolfo” (Antiquities from Albano and Castel Gandolfo).
Very Good condition, with a normal fold at the center and light folds on the lower. Ref: Focillon n. 516 , L. Ficacci, Piranesi, The Complete Etching, Taschen,2000 n.568, pag.459.
(1764) cm 40.5 x 60.5/ cm 55 x 78