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Description of Giovanni Battista Piranesi's Le Antichita Romane, 1784

Item Code: piranesides

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Description

These fine engravings are from the work entitled Le Antichita Romane (The Antiquities of Rome) by G. B. Piranesi. This edition was published in 1784. Piranesi is known as one of the most famous architectual artists of all times. Born in Venice and later settled in Rome, the young Piranesi first aspired to be an architect. After having little luck in his studied field, he turned instead to the art of architecture. Piranesi felt a duty to preserve the ruins of Rome, "When I first saw the remains of the ancient buildings of Rome lying as they do in cultivated fields or gardens and wasting away under the ravages of time, or being destroyed by greedy owners, I determined to preserve them forever by means of my engravings." Drawing upon his knowledge of architecture along with this love of Roman ruins he created thousands of engravings and etchings featuring buildings, statues, and ornaments. Unlike some of his other works which add imagined props and people to the ruins, such as Carceri, Le Antichita Romane is meant to be a strict rendition of the ruins. "This monumental work secured Piranesi's international reputation as antiquarian and artist," (Sotheby's, June 2003).