Giovanni Battista Piranesi Engraving of an Ancient Marble Urn

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Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778)
Engraving of an Ancient Marble Altar (Urn)
Rome, circa 1768–1778
Etching on paper

Dimensions: 35 … Read more Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778)
Engraving of an Ancient Marble Altar (Urn)
Rome, circa 1768–1778
Etching on paper

Dimensions: 35 inches × 29 1/8 inches × 1 1/2 inches.

This engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi depicts a monumental marble urn, recorded among the antiquities discovered at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. Resting on three elaborate supports, the broad, fluted basin is adorned with dramatic sculptural handles in the form of mythological creatures. Beneath, the urn is elevated on a richly decorated pedestal, where putti flank a cornucopia and marine motifs, symbols of fertility and abundance.

The dedication at the top of the plate honors the English collector Sir Thomas Barrett, reflecting the wide circle of international patrons who admired Piranesi’s antiquarian works. Though rooted in archaeological study, the composition exemplifies Piranesi’s artistic imagination—exaggerating scale and detail to heighten the grandeur of Roman design. His engravings, such as this, helped shape 18th-century Europe’s fascination with classical antiquity and the revival of neoclassical style.

The piece is within a simple black frame with a wide white matte.

(Ref: NY10863-nirx) See less