Print XXIX and Figure II of Le Antichita Roma

Category

Library Item

Item no

28242

Title

Print XXIX and Figure II of Piranesi, Le Antichita Romane

Description

Two engravings on one page from volume I of Le Antichita Roma.
Figure XXIX: Veduta del scond’ ordine di una parte della della Calcidica del Foro di Trajano
Figure II: Colonna Trajana

Artist / maker

Piranesi, Giovanni Battista

Date

1756

Size

53.2 x 39.5 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Art and Design Library

Here two engravings from Le Antichita Romane in Piranesi’s picturesque and romantic style depict archaeological sites, sepulchral monuments, reconstructions of engineering feats, ancient bridges, baths and other structures.

Le Antichita Romane by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) illustrates the interest by Italian artists in exploring their native classical antiquity contributing to the spread of knowledge of classical architecture.

Piranesi’s prints depicting the buildings of classical and postclassical Rome and its vicinity contributed to Rome’s fame and to the growth of classical archaeology and to the Neoclassical movement in art.

Piranesi went from his native Venice to study in Rome as a draughtsman for the Venetian ambassador, settling permanently in Rome in 1745. It was during this period that Piranesi developed his highly original etching technique, producing rich textures and bold contrasts of light and shadow by means of the intricate, repeated bitings of the copperplate.

The developing centre of the Grand Tour was Rome and Piranesi was aware of the poetic aspects of grand ruins. A distinctive feature of Piranesi's work is based on the interpretation of Classical antiquity by adding his imagination to increase the originality as illustrated in `Le Antichita Romane’ depicting the ancient ruins of Rome.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Arcades (Architectural components)

Architecture > Architectural features > Architectural drawings

Architecture > Architectural features > Balconies

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Architectural features > Domes

Religion > Religious facilities > Churches

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