New: Artnap New Tab for Chrome. A museum painting in every new tab. Add to Chrome

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

748 works

Piranesi's father was a stonemason in Venice, and the boy was apprenticed to his uncle Matteo Lucchesi, an architect.

In 1740 he went to Rome as a draughtsman for the Venetian ambassador. There Giuseppe Vasi taught him etching, and Legrand says Vasi told him he was "too much of a painter" to be an engraver. Piranesi became famous for his etchings of Rome and for the Prisons, a series of huge underground vaults full of stairs and machines. His only building was the church of Santa Maria del Priorato on the Aventine Hill, and he was buried there after he died in Rome in 1778. Browse 748 works by Giovanni Battista Piranesi from 13 museums, free to download in HD. Source: Wikipedia

Featured

Filters

Works per page

Grey ink drawing of a ruined Doric temple colonnade with grazing oxen and figures in the foreground.

View of the temple of 'Juno' near Paestum

c. 1775

Etching of a ruined multi-arched stone bridge over a river, with a round tower, boats and fishermen in the foreground.

View of Ponte Lugano on the Anio, from Views of Rome

1763, published 1800-07

Etching of the Villa Pamphili with a formal garden, palace facade, strolling figures and umbrella pines.

Villa Pamphili outside Porta S. Pancrazio, from Views of Rome

1776, published 1800-07

Etching of a vast vaulted prison interior with chains, stairs, and walkways, with a central inscribed title tablet.

Title Page from Imaginary Prisons

1761

Etching of a towering round prison tower with stairs, railed walkways, arches and a wooden crane, with small figures.

The Round Tower, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)

ca. 1749-50

Pen and ink sketch of six figures in period costume on a street, including men, women and a child, by Giovanni Battista Piran

Sheet of Sketches: Six Figures

1768/78

Pen and brown wash drawing of robed figures gathered around a smoking altar in a classical temple with tall columns.

Sacrificial Offering in a Temple

after 1750

Etching of the ruined interior of the Colosseum with arches, tall overgrown piers and small figures among the stones.

Interior view of the Colosseum, from Views of Rome

1766, published 1807-35

Etching of the Arch of Constantine in Rome with figures and goats in the foreground and ruins beyond.

View of the Arch of Constantine, from Views of Rome

1771, published 1800-07

Etching of an ancient stone wall and sewer arch on a river, with rowing boats, a sailing ship, and a domed building above.

View of the ancient structure built by Tarquinius Superbus called the Bel Lido, and like others, built by Marcus Agri…

1776, published 1800-07

Etching of the round Tomb of Caecilia Metella with ruined battlements, an arch, goats and small figures in the foreground.

Tomb of Caecilia Metella, from Views of Rome

1762, published 1800-07

Etching of a fantastical prison interior with chains, stone arches, a staircase and an inscribed title plate.

Title Plate

published 1749/1750

Brown ink drawing of an imposing classical city with arched gateways, columns, balconies and small figures in the street.

An Ancient Port

1740s

Etching of the circular Temple of Cybele in Rome with Corinthian columns, carts, and figures in a street, by Piranesi.

Views of Rome: Temple of Cybele

1758

Etching of a ruined circular temple with arched windows, overgrown with plants, and small figures among fallen stones.

Views of Rome: Remains of the Temple of Apollo near Hadrian's Villa

1768

Pen and brown ink drawing of four studies of male figures in dynamic poses, some standing and one seated, with wash shading.

Four Studies of a Male Figure

1760-1765

Etching of ruined Roman triumphal arch with columns and small figures, by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, 1748.

Part of the Forum of Nerva, plate five from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

published 1748

Etching of the Arch of Titus in Rome with ivy-covered piers, an inscribed attic, and numbered ruins in the distance.

1. Arch of Titus. 2. Villa Farnese. 3. Columns of the Temple of Jupiter Stator [the Supporter]. 4. Arch of Septimius…

1748

Etching of the Arch of Constantine in Rome with statues, reliefs and columns, framed by overgrown trees.

Arch of Constantine in Rome, plate 9 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of three ruined Corinthian columns of the Temple of Jupiter Stator in Rome, with a temple facade and cattle at left.

Ruins of the Temple of Jupiter Stator [Jupiter the Supporter]. 1. Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. 2. Temple of Peac…

1748

Etching of the Ponte Rotto arches over a river, with the round Temple of Vesta and ruins of the Palatine behind.

Senatorial Bridge, Today called the Ponte Rotto [Broken Bridge]. 1. Temple of Vesta. 2. Temple of Fortuna Virilis. 3.…

1748

Etching of ruined Corinthian columns, a stone arch and a tall wall with small figures and a tree in the foreground.

Forum of Augustus, plate 15 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of a ruined Roman triumphal arch with ivy, a fallen inscribed block, figures, and buildings beside it.

The Arch at Rimini built by Augustus, plate 17 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of ruined ancient tombs and arches along the Appian Way with cypress trees and small figures in the foreground.

Part of the ancient Appian Way about three miles outside Porta S. Sebastiano, plate 19 from Some Views of Triumphal A…

1748

Etching of the circular Tomb of Caecilia Metella with ruined arch at right, trees and small figures in foreground.

Tomb of Caecilia Metella called Capo di Bove [Ox Head], plate twenty from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other mo…

1748

Etching of a ruined classical triumphal arch with small figures, a leaning tree, and crumbling walls in the foreground.

Arch of Pola in Istria near the Gate, plate 24 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of an ancient amphitheater interior with tiered seating, rows of arches, small figures on the arena floor, and overgr

Ampitheater of Verona, plate 25 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of a ruined classical temple with columns and pediment, overgrown with plants, beside arched ruins under a cloudy sky

Temple of Clitumnus between Foligno and Spoleto, plate 26 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of overgrown Roman tomb ruins with a stone sarcophagus, figures and a bare tree in the foreground.

Tomb of the three Curiatii brothers in Albano, plate 27 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Etching of the Arch of Trajan in Ancona beside a busy harbor with masted ships and figures on the quay.

Arch of Trajan in Ancona, plate 28 from Some Views of Triumphal Arches and other monuments

1748

Pen and brown ink drawing of a ruined Roman street with tall walls, an arched gate, and small figures walking along the pavin

View through the Herculaneum Gate, Pompeii

1778

Etching of a vast vaulted interior with a central round tower, stone staircases, railed walkways and small figures.

The Round Tower

1780s