The Roman Colosseum: A Framed 18th Century Etching of the Interior by Giovanni Piranesi, 1766

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This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta dell'interno dell'Anfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo" (View of … Read more This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta dell'interno dell'Anfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo" (View of the interior of the Flavian Amphitheater known as the Colosseum), was published in Rome in 1766 in Piranesi's monumental work 'Vedute di Roma' (Views of Rome). This etching depicts the interior of the famous ancient Roman colosseum. The way Piranesi chose to illustrate the state of disrepair of the architecture of this wonderful and historically important ancient structure in a way reflects his concern for the decay of many of Rome's monuments and landmarks. This situation was a motivating factor for him to document the appearance of Rome's ancient architecture with his etchings, before there was further deterioration of these magnificent structures. Piranesi chose to jar our senses by selecting a perspective of the Colosseum's interior which places structures in the foreground, like the column of stone in the center and the tall overgrown structure on the right, that disrupt the pleasing symmetrical order of the small archways on the far right. The casual neglect and disrespect of the local Romans for the Colosseum is further communicated by Piranesi when he includes scenes of animals grazing within the building, fallen blocks of stone laying on the ground and vegetation growing out of portions of the structure. People, some ordinary Romans and others possibly tourists on the Grand Tour, wander about the grounds. Some of these individuals are in casual conversation, like the two men adjacent to the stone slab in the lower left, which contains the title of the piece, one leaning against the structure. The peaceful scene is in sharp contrast to the earlier violent battles of the gladiators in this very same spot. Piranesi's name appears in the lower margin on the right.
This Piranesi etching is held by many museums and institutions, including: The Metropolitan Museum, The British Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Harvard Museum of Art, and The Portland Art Museum.
This magnificent etching is printed on heavy laid, chain-linked, deckle edge paper. It is presented in a brown-colored wood frame and a gray mat. It is glazed with UV conservation glass. All mounting materials used are archival. The frame measures 28.88" high by 37.25" wide by 1.25" deep. There is a central vertical fold, as issued. The print is in very good condition. See less