Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi disegnati ed incisi dal Cav. Gio. Batt. Piranesi, Vol. II
Original title: 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
This etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi was made between 1778 and 1780. It belongs to the second volume of a collection of ornamental drawings and presents an ancient vase surrounded by smaller detail studies and inscriptions.
Description
A large, richly decorated vase dominates most of the sheet. Relief-like heads and faces with long, flowing hair and beards run across its surface; the handles are formed as hands. The vessel rests on a square pedestal bearing Latin inscriptions. To either side stand two smaller sketches that record the ornaments and structure in detail. A block of text with dedications and information closes the lower edge.
Context
The etching is part of a multi-volume publication with which Piranesi documented ancient Roman ornaments and vessels. It falls in a phase in which he was intensively studying and reproducing Roman antiquity. The collection was intended as a model book for artists and architects; in this way knowledge of ancient forms spread throughout Europe.
Impact
What stands out is the high precision with which the complex relief structures are rendered. The sheet carries an aura of monumentality and historical authenticity and transports the viewer into the world of Roman antiquity.
Technique
The work was done in etching: the drawing is scratched into a wax layer on a copper plate and the whole is then etched. This process allows fine lines and a great depth of detail, as required for ornamental structures. The result is a black-and-white print with strong contrast.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)