Vase decorated with a Bacchanalian frieze
Original title: Vase decorated with a Bacchanalian frieze, 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
This etching from 1778–80 comes from Volume II of Piranesi's plate series 'Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi...' and presents an ancient vase encircled by a Bacchic figure frieze. The print combines close study of an archaeological object with the aims of decorative printmaking, produced for the second edition of the collection.
Description
A smooth, cube-shaped base supports the vessel, whose surface from foot to rim is covered with densely packed ornament. The central frieze shows a group of dancing and interacting figures in a festive mood; some are caught mid-movement, others turn toward one another. Everything remains in black and white, drawn with very fine lines. An inscription below the vessel names the artist and the patron.
Context
The etching belongs to the series published between 1778 and 1780 in which Piranesi recorded ancient vases and related objects. Pieces from Roman collections and excavations that he examined himself served as models. The publication addressed collectors and scholars as well as artists and architects seeking inspiration from ancient forms.
Impact
Archaeological precision meets a figure scene of almost dramatic animation. A tension arises between the strict ornamental decoration and the dancing group, and this gives the print its appeal. Overall, the print conveys a dignified elegance characteristic of Piranesi.
Technique
Fine lines drawn with varying pressure and dense hatching model light, shadow and surface texture in this etching. In this intaglio process, the drawing is scratched into a wax layer and then etched into the copper plate. The different stroke patterns create tonal values ranging from delicate gray to rich black; the sheet was printed in landscape format, as the proportions of the print indicate.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)