Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style, from Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini (...) (Different Ways of ornamenting chimneypieces and all other parts of houses)
Original title: Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style, from Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini (...) (Different Ways of ornamenting chimneypieces and all other parts of houses)
kurzbeschreibung
Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching around 1769, showing an elaborately designed fireplace in the Egyptian style. It belongs to the series 'Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini' and measures 40 x 54.7 cm as a sheet and 25 x 38.7 cm as a plate. Sphinxes, Egyptian goddesses and mythological figures arrange themselves around the central firebox.
Description
The layout is strictly symmetrical: two sphinxes sit to the left and right of the fireplace, from which smoke rises. Above and at the sides, Egyptian goddesses and other legendary figures appear as if worked in relief. Small panels with signs and script surround the main figures. Black and white predominate, light falls from above and sharpens the outlines; fine lines and hatching define the etched sheet.
Context
The series 'Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini' was created around 1769 as part of Piranesi's architectural designs. Contemporary interest in the Egyptian, fed by excavations in Rome and Egypt, is reflected in it. Piranesi often combined Egyptian with classical forms, a matter that occupied 18th-century art theory. The etching served as a model for interior decoration and furniture.
Impact
Calm and monumentality emanate from the mirror-like arrangement and clear lines. The sheet feels exotic yet refined through the combination of Egyptian and baroque forms. Black against white emphasizes the physicality of the figures and draws the eye to details.
Technique
In etching, the lines were bitten into a copper plate. Precise draughtsmanship and fine hatching demonstrate Piranesi's skill in this process. Printing was in black on white paper, which enhances the graphic effect.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)