Various Lamps and a vase encrusted with cameos, from "Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi disegnati ed incisi dal Cav. Gio. Batt. Piranesi"
Original title: Various Lamps and a vase encusted with cameos, from "Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi disegnati ed incisi dal Cav. Gio. Batt. Piranesi" (Vases, candelabra, grave stones, sarcophagi, tripods, lamps and ornaments designed and etched by Cavaliere Giovanni Battista Piranesi)
kurzbeschreibung
Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching around 1778, bringing together a group of ancient lamps and a vase studded with cameos. The sheet belongs to his series 'Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi' and reflects his deep interest in Roman antiquity.
Description
At first your eye is drawn to the central cluster: several ancient lamps and vases whose surfaces are adorned with cameos. One lamp features a human mask, while the cameos bear faces and profile heads. Behind this, a landscape with mountains and trees is hinted at, only faintly outlined. The etching stays monochrome in shades of gray, with even lighting and no strong shadows. Details are rendered with precision and care, typical of eighteenth-century Italian copperplate engraving.
Context
Piranesi published this etching as part of a series documenting and circulating ancient Roman artifacts. The collection 'Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi' began appearing in 1778 in several volumes and was intended to foster interest in antiquity. Piranesi was known for his archaeological studies and his faithful reproduction of ancient objects. The pairing of cameos and lamps mirrors the contemporary fascination with Roman art and its collectible pieces.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and delicate lines give the sheet a remarkably balanced and clear presence. The careful rendering of the cameos and ornaments invites close looking and conveys a sense of the splendor of the ancient objects. The calm, even lighting underlines the documentary character of the etching.
Technique
The work is executed as an etching, an intaglio process in which the drawing is bitten into a copper plate. Piranesi used fine lines and hatching to capture the details of the objects and the texture of their materials. The plate measures 38.5 x 53.5 cm; the sheet is printed on paper measuring 41 x 57.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)