Vaso Antico di Marmo di Gran Mole

Location

Country: Italy
City: Rome
Place: British Embassy

Giovanni Battista Piranesi was born in Mogliano Veneto, near Treviso. He studied architecture under his uncle, Matteo Lucchesi. His most original works are etchings of extravagant, imaginary prisons, published as ‘Carceri d’Invenzione’ (1749/50). However, he is better known for views of ancient and modern Rome, published from 1745 onwards as ‘Vedute’, and for pro-Roman, anti-Greek writings, based on archaeological resources. Piranesi’s work greatly influenced 18th-century architecture and representations of the Decline and Fall of Rome. In 1757 he was made a member of the Society of Antiquaries in London. In 1771, Horace Walpole wrote: ‘Piranesi ...conceived visions of Rome beyond what it boasted even in the meridian of its splendour.’

Places

Subjects

urn, vase (as Subject)

Materials & Techniques

etching

Artist

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720 - 1778)

Title

Vaso Antico di Marmo di Gran Mole

Date

1778

Dimensions

height: 36.7cm, width: 26.7cm

Acquisition

Purchased 1983

Inscription

Al Signor Cavalier Giovanni Cuthbert amatore delle belle arti. In atto d'Ossequio il Cavalier Gio. Batta Piranesi DDD. Vaso antico di marmo di gran mole, che si rende particolare per l'eleganza dei suoi manichi, quali formano tutto il principale ornamento di esso, e si vede nel cortile del Monastero di S. Cecilia in Trastevere.

Provenance

Purchased by John Cornforth

GAC number

15904