Perspective view of the same candelabrum, from "Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi disegnati ed incisi dal Cav. Gio. Batt. Piranesi, Vol. II"
Original title: Perspective view of the same candelabrum, from "Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi disegnati ed incisi dal Cav. Gio. Batt. Piranesi, Vol. II" (Vases, candelabra, grave stones, sarcophagi, tripods, lamps, and ornaments designed and etched by Cavalieri Giovanni Battista Piranesi)
kurzbeschreibung
Giovanni Battista Piranesi devotes this sheet from his second collection, 'Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi', to an elaborately decorated ancient marble candelabrum, which he recorded in perspective between 1778 and 1780. The etching treats the object not as an accessory but as a subject in its own right, with archaeological intent.
Description
A tall, multi-tiered candelabrum rises centrally. At its top, a figure holds up a cup or bowl; below, several swans are inserted as ornament. Dense ornament and further figure motifs cover the shaft, and the base is also elaborately worked. As an etching, the image remains black and white, and the hatching and fine lines stand out clearly. Italian inscriptions at the margin provide information about the object and its maker.
Context
In his later years Piranesi turned increasingly to the study and documentation of Roman antiquities, and this sheet also belongs to that phase. The collection 'Vasi, candelabri...' appeared in several volumes and was intended as a reference work for architects, collectors and art lovers. The artist combined archaeological accuracy with staged presentation to make the splendour of antiquity vivid; the publication carried considerable weight for the reception of antiquity in the eighteenth century.
Impact
Piranesi conceives the candelabrum on a monumental scale, and the perspective layout gives it spatial depth. Through precise linework the ornamentation seems almost tangible and gains in liveliness. Viewers are prompted to look closely, which sharpens their understanding of ancient craftsmanship.
Technique
This work is an etching: the drawing was incised into a wax layer on a copper plate, and the whole was then etched. Piranesi's hallmarks are the great richness of lines and exact hatching. The sheet was printed horizontally; the plate measures 26 x 16 5/16 inches, the paper format 19 7/8 x 28 3/4 inches.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)