Etching, Italian; Piranesi, Giovanni Battista, 1720-1778
Of his five children, Francesco (b. 1748) and Laura (b. 1750) etched
in their father’s manner and assisted him in his work. After his
death, however, they took to print-selling rather than creative work,
though Francesco still etched plates on his own account. In 1798 he
packed up his father’s copper-plates and took them to Paris. During an
adventurous journey they fell into the hands of an English Admiral,
who, however, knowing the fame of the father, unfortunately restrained
his first impulse to throw the plates overboard. It was unfortunate
because on arrival in Paris Francesco was able, with the help of the
French Government, to republish from the old plates a new edition of
his father’s work, which, from the state of the plates, for many years
did considerable damage to Piranesi’s fame as an etcher. The plates
exist at the present day, and it is believed that prints are still
occasionally struck from them. Now, however, the difference between the
original Roman impressions and the later Paris ones is well understood,
and Piranesi’s renown never stood higher than it does to-day. His son
died in 1810.
The plates here reproduced are from the author’s collection, with the
exception of the designs for chimneypieces, which have been kindly lent
by Mr. Batsford.
C. H. REILLY.
[Illustration: Plate 1:
Title-page to the “Vedute di Roma.” (Pub. Rome 1751.)]
[Illustration: Plate 2:
Composition of Ruins.]
[Illustration: Plate 3:
Bas-relief from the Portico of the Church of the
Apostles, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 4:
Antique bas-relief from Naples.]
[Illustration: Plate 5:
Trophy of Arms.]
[Illustration: Plate 6:
Design for a Grand Staircase.]
[Illustration: Plate 7:
Design for a Sculpture Gallery.]
[Illustration: Plate 8:
Design for the Mausoleum of a Roman Emperor.]
[Illustration: Plate 9:
Sketch Design.]
[Illustration: Plate 10:
Composition.]
[Illustration: Plate 11:
Pyramid of C. Cestius, Appian Way.]
[Illustration: Plate 12:
Temple of Hercules, Cora.]
[Illustration: Plate 13:
Basilica of Maxentius, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 14:
The Capitol, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 15:
The Capitol.]
[Illustration: Plate 16:
The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 17:
The Colosseum.]
[Illustration: Plate 18:
Tomb of Hadrian (Castle of St. Angelo).]
[Illustration: Plate 19:
Ponte Molle, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 20:
The Temple of Vesta at Tivoli.]
[Illustration: Plate 21:
Interior of the Pantheon.]
[Illustration: Plate 22:
Gallery in Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli.]
[Illustration: Plate 23:
Ponte St. Angelo.]
[Illustration: Plate 24:
Temple of Concord, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 25:
Interior of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.]
[Illustration: Plate 26:
Piazza Navona, Rome.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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