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Giovanni Battista Piranesi

747 works

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Etching of ruined Corinthian columns and walls of the Temple of Cybele with small figures among the stones.

Remains of the Temple of Cybele (Avanzi del Tempio di Cibele)

18th century

Etching of a stone archway framing a view of arcades, an obelisk, and small figures in a distant plaza.

The Grand Piazza

published 1749/1750

Etching of tall arches, stairways and smoke rising among small figures in a dense imaginary city.

The Smoking Fire

published 1749/1750

Etching of seven ruined Corinthian columns partly buried in rubble, with tiny figures among the stones under a cloudy sky.

Seven columns of the Temple of Juturna with Corinthian capitals . . . (Sette colonne con capitelli corinti spettanti…

18th century

Etching of a vast vaulted staircase with arches, balustrades, two plumed trophy sculptures, and small figures below.

The Staircase with Trophies

published 1749/1750

Etching of a huge curved wheel above stacked stone blocks and ruins, with tiny figures working on the machinery.

The Giant Wheel

published 1749/1750

Etching of a vaulted ancient school with Egyptian hieroglyph-covered portal, opening onto a temple and column in a piazza.

Ancient school built according to the Egyptian and Greek manners (Scuola antica architettata all'Egiziana e alla Greca)

1750

Etching of vast vaulted hall with prisoners on a railed platform beside a suspended chain and hook, by Piranesi.

Prisoners on a Projecting Platform

published 1749/1750

Etching of massive vaulted arches with a shell ornament at left and small figures on a stone walkway beneath a lantern.

The Arch with a Shell Ornament

published 1749/1750

Etching of a vast vaulted stone interior with arches, a staircase, workmen, and a wooden sawhorse scaffold at right.

The Sawhorse

published 1749/1750

Etching of a stone well, staircase, timber hoist and chains among crumbling architecture, with small figures on the steps.

The Well

published 1749/1750

Etching of the ruined Arch of Galienus in Rome with figures walking among the weathered stone arch and nearby buildings.

Arch of Galienus. 1. Façade od the Church of S. Vito (Arco di Galieno. 1. Facciata della Chiesa di S. Vito), from "Al…

ca. 1748

Etching of a vaulted interior with a stone pier, lion-head rings, hanging chains and a lamp atop a tall pedestal.

The Pier with a Lamp

published 1749/1750

Etching of a triumphal arch beside a harbor quay with ships' masts, figures, and a distant domed church.

Plate 28: Arch of Trajan in Ancona (Arco di Trajano in Ancona), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed altri monum…

ca. 1748

Etching of a vast vaulted stone interior with hanging chains, lanterns, a staircase, and two small figures walking in front.

The Pier with Chains

published 1749/1750

Etching of the ruined Tomb of the Curiatii at Albano, with overgrown towers, a bare tree and figures near an inscribed stone.

Plate 27: Tomb of the three Curiatii brothers in Albano (Sepolcro delle tre fratelli Curiati in Albano), from "Alcune…

ca. 1748

Etching of an overgrown ancient temple with columns and ruined arches in the foreground, under a cloudy sky.

Plate 26: Temple of Clitumnus between Foligno and Spoleto... (Tempio di Clitumno tra Fuligno e Spoletti...), from "Al…

ca. 1748

Etching of an ancient amphitheater interior with curved tiered seating, arched arcades, and small figures on the arena floor.

Plate 25: Amphitheater of Verona (Anfiteatro di Verona), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed altri monumenti in…

ca. 1748

Etching of a ruined Roman triumphal arch with small figures and overgrown walls, by Piranesi, ca. 1750.

Plate 24: Arch of Pola in Istria near the Gate (Arco di Pola in Istria vicino alla Porta), from "Alcune Vedute di Arc…

ca. 1750

Etching of the Pola amphitheater in Istria with tiered arches beside the sea, with boats and figures in the foreground.

Plate 23: Amphitheater of Pola in Istria near the sea (Anfiteatro di Pola in Istria vicino al mare), from "Alcune Ved…

ca. 1748

Etching of a ruined classical temple rear facade with overgrown plants, a smaller building, and figures among trees.

Plate 22: Rear View of the Temple of Pola in Istria. 1. Rear View of another temple. (Rovescio del Tempio di Pola di…

ca. 1748

Etching of the ruined Temple of Pola with Corinthian columns, a pediment, overgrown vegetation and small figures among the ru

Plate 21: Temple of Pola in Istria (Tempio di Pola in Istria), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed altri monume…

ca. 1748

Etching of the circular Tomb of Caecilia Metella in Rome with an inscribed panel, a ruined arch at right, and figures among t

Plate 20: Tomb of Caecilia Metella called the Capo di Bove (Ox Head) (Sepolcro di Metela detto Capo di Bove), from "A…

ca. 1748

Etching of the curved ruined wall of the Tomb of the Scipios in Rome, overgrown with plants, with figures among stone fragmen

Plate 18: The Tomb of the Scipios (Sepolcro della famiglia de' Scipioni), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed a…

ca. 1748

Etching of a ruined Roman triumphal arch overgrown with ivy, with a fallen inscribed block and small figures in the street.

Plate 17: The Arch of Rimini built by Augustus (Arco di Rimino fabbricato da Augusto), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi T…

ca. 1748

Etching of an imagined Roman forum with colonnades, loggias, fountains, horse statues and figures walking on the paved square

Ancient Roman forum surrounded by porticoes, with loggias, some of which communicate with the Imperial Palace and oth…

ca. 1750

Etching of an ancient Roman mausoleum with obelisks, urns, colonnades and statues, with small figures on stepped terraces.

Ancient mausoleum erected for the ashes of a Roman Emperor (Mausoleo antico eretto per le ceneri d'un Imperadore Roma…

ca. 1750

Etching of a grand courtyard with columns, arches, fountains with sculpted figures, and steps with small figures.

Group of columns which support two arches of a great courtyard... (Gruppo di Colonne, che regge due archi d'un grande…

ca. 1750

Etching of an imagined ancient temple interior with a coffered dome, Corinthian columns, a grand staircase, and smoking sacre

Imaginery ancient temple designed in the style of those built in honor of the Goddess Vesta... (Tempio antico inventa…

ca. 1750

Etching of an ancient altar with carved reliefs, surrounded by ruined columns, skulls and overgrown plants.

Ancient Altar on which sacrifices were performed in antiquity, surrounded by other ruins (Ara antica sopra la quale s…

ca. 1750

Etching of overgrown Roman tomb ruins with a relief frieze, a waterfall channel, and small figures in the foreground.

Ruins of an ancient tomb in front of ruins of an ancient aqueduct (Ruine di Sepolcro antico posto dinanzi ad altre ru…

ca. 1750

Etching of ancient ruins with a porphyry urn, a palm tree, and small figures among fallen stones and columns.

Remains of ancient buldings among which stands the sepulchral urn of Marcus Agrippa made entirely of porphyry, which…

ca. 1750

Etching of a dark vaulted prison with arches, railed galleries, a hanging rope hoist, and small figures below.

Dark prison with a courtyard for the punishment of criminals... (Carcere oscura con Antenna pel suplizio dè malfatori…

ca. 1750

Etching of an imaginary Roman sepulchral chamber with tiered niches, arches, a reclining statue, and a sarcophagus overgrown

Camera sepolcrale inventata e disegnata conforme al costume, e all'antica magnificenza degl'Imperatori Romani... (Ima…

ca. 1750

Etching of a royal courtyard with a central colonnaded loggia, fountains, statues, and small figures on steps.

View of a courtyard with a loggia, fountains, statues, and other ornaments (Prospetto d'un regio Cortile nel cui mezz…

ca. 1750

Etching of a grand stepped interior with rows of columns, arches, fountains and small figures, by Piranesi.

Stairways adorned by magnificient architecture... (Gruppo di Scale ornato di magnifica Architettura...), from "Prima…

ca. 1750

Etching of an imagined ancient Roman piazza with obelisk, columns, statues, a round temple and steps.

The ancient Capitol ascended by approximately one hundred steps... (Campidoglio antico a cui si ascendeva per circa c…

ca. 1750

Etching of an imaginary Roman bridge with loggias and arches, framed by a large arch, with boats on water.

Magnificent bridge with loggias, and arches erected by a Roman Emperor... (Ponte magnfiico con Logge, ed Archi errett…

ca. 1750

Etching of a colonnaded Roman-style hall with Corinthian columns, statues in niches, and small figures on steps.

Colonnaded hall according to the custom of the ancient Romans, and niches adorned with statues (Sala all'uso degli an…

ca. 1750

Etching of a grand sculpture gallery with arches, coffered vaults, a wide staircase, statues in niches, and small figures.

Large sculpture gallery built on arches and lit from above... (Galleria grande di Statue, la cui struttura è con Arch…

ca. 1750

Engraved design of a classical chimneypiece with winged griffons on the lintel, candelabra on the sides, and a flame in the f

Chimneypiece: Affronted griffons on the lintel and candelabra on the jambs (Ch. accompagnée de son plan et décorée d'…

ca. 1769

Engraved classical chimneypiece with winged Victories on the frieze, cornucopia jambs, and an ornate fire grate.

Chimneypiece: Frieze of trophies and winged Victories on the lintel, with cornucopias to either side of the jambs dec…

ca. 1769

Engraved plate of neoclassical furniture and candlesticks, including two sedan chairs, a side table and a commode.

Miscellaneous furniture including two sedan chairs, a side table and a commode (Deux ch. à porteurs v. de côté, conso…

ca. 1769

Etched design of an Egyptian-style chimneypiece with mummies, caryatids, hieroglyphs and a central flaming fireplace.

Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style: Two mummies in profile on the left and two figures brearing obelisks on the right…

ca. 1769

Engraved Egyptian-style chimneypiece by Piranesi, with caryatids, sphinxes, hieroglyphs and stepped pyramid motifs around the

Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style: Groups of three female nudes at the base of each jamb, surmounted by larger kneel…

ca. 1769

Etched Egyptian-style chimneypiece with a caryatid, mummy figure, hieroglyphs and sphinx heads above a burning fire.

Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style: Mummy superimposed on a large caryatid above the lintel (Ch. à l'égyptiennne surm…

1769

Engraved neoclassical chimneypiece design with Greek key border and circular zodiac fireback showing a chariot.

Chimneypiece: Architrave decorated with a Greek key motif and a circular fireback with figures of the zodiac (Ch. déc…

ca. 1769

Title page of Piranesi's Opere varie, with red lettering and a small etching of figures among ruined classical architecture.

Frontispiece to "Opere varie di architettura, prospettive grotesshi antichità"

1750

Etched plate with Latin inscriptions from Roman monuments inside ornate scrolled borders, with an Italian plate index below.

Iscrizione nei lati del Ponte di Rimino (Inscription on the side of the Rimini Bridge) followed by an index of plates…

ca. 1748

Dedication to Giovanni Bottari (Dédicace à Bottari), from "Antichità Romane de' Tempi della Repubblica, e de' primi I…

ca. 1748

Etched interior of an ancient temple vestibule with Corinthian columns, niche statues, and coffered vaults receding into dept

Vestibule of an ancient temple... (Vestibolo d'antico Tempio...), from "Prima Parte di Architettura, e Prospettive"

ca. 1743-50

Etching of tall ruined Roman brick walls and arches with workers in the foreground and distant mountains under cloudy sky.

Veduta degli avanzi del Castro Pretorio nella Villa Adriana a Tivoli (View of the Remains of the Praetorian Fort [the…

1770

Etching of a fantastical ruined landscape with skeletons, urns, garlands, a fountain and figures among classical fragments.

The Skeletons

published 1750/1759

Etching of a triumphal arch with classical ruins, trophies, a palm tree and figures among scattered armor and debris.

The Triumphal Arch

published 1750/1759

Etching of a fantastical overgrown ruin with scrolling ornament, sarcophagus, cypress trees, and a cloudy sky.

The Tomb of Nero

published 1750/1759

Etching of ornate garlands, broken architectural fragments, skulls and scrollwork arranged in a fantastical ruined interior.

The Monumental Tablet

published 1750/1759

Etching of overgrown Roman ruins with a relief frieze, fallen column, inscribed stone and a figure beside a pool.

Rovine d' antichi Edifizj

published 1743/1744

Red chalk and wash drawing of classical ruins with a tomb inscription, stone arch, urn on column, and large tree.

Grottesco with the Tomb of Nero

1747

Etching of Piazza Navona in Rome with an obelisk, a fountain, a domed church, and crowds of people in the square.

The Piazza Navona, Rome, above the ruins of the Circus of Domitian, the Church of Sant Agnese to the right, Bernini's…

1760-78

Etched title page of Piranesi's Imaginary Prisons, showing a vaulted stone chamber with chains, stairs and an inscription blo

Title Page from Imaginary Prisons

1749-50

Etching of a columned classical palazzo facade on a busy Roman street with carts, horses, and pedestrians among stone rubble.

Resten van de Tempel van Hadrianus te Rome

1748

Etching of the Ponte Salario, a stone arched bridge with a battlemented tower, boats on the river and figures on the road.

Ponte Salario te Rome

1748

Etching of ruined Roman brick walls and arches with figures, hanging laundry, a ladder and a gateway under a cloudy sky.

Fontana dell'Acqua Giulia te Rome

1748

Etching of the Pyramid of Cestius beside a city wall, with figures on a rough road and ruins in the foreground.

Piramide van Cestius te Rome

1748