Pair Of Engravings Based On Works By Giovanni Battista Piranesi

An elegant pair of copperplate engravings depicting two monumental ancient vases, after Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778).

These prints are taken from the famous collection Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi, published in Rome beginning in 1778. After Piranesi’s death, this monumental publication was continued and reissued by his son Francesco Piranesi, helping to spread the masterpieces of Roman antiquity throughout Europe.

The engravings bear the designations T. I and T. II (Tomo I and Tomo II), indicating that they belong to the two volumes of the collection. The order of the plates varies among the different editions published in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but these designations serve as a valuable bibliographic reference.

The vases depicted are engraved with remarkable precision, highlighting the richness of ancient decorative motifs: gadroons, volute handles, garlands, mascarons, and architectural ornaments. True to Piranesi’s spirit, each plate transcends the mere archaeological illustration to become a true work of art, where the refinement of the line celebrates the grandeur of Roman civilization.

Presented in beautiful gilded wooden frames, these engravings form a particularly elegant decorative ensemble, ideal for both classical and contemporary interiors.

Architect, engraver, archaeologist, and theorist, Giovanni Battista Piranesi is one of the leading figures in 18th-century European engraving.
Having settled in Rome in 1740, he devoted his work to the study and depiction of ancient monuments. Through the exceptional quality of his etchings, he contributed significantly to the rise of the neoclassical style and had a lasting influence on architects, interior designers, cabinetmakers, and collectors on the Grand Tour.

His collection Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi remains an essential reference in the history of the decorative arts.

• Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778)
• Copper engravings
• Italy, late 18th century
• Collection Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi
• Notes Vol. I and Vol. II
• Gilded wood frames
• Sold as a pair