- 8
Giovanni Battista and Francesco Piranesi
Estimate
150,000 - 200,000 GBP
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Description
- Giovanni Battista and Francesco Piranesi
- Opera, comprising 22 works in 15 volumes
Volumes I-IV
1. Le Antichità Romane (Focillon 144-395; Hind p. 83)
Etchings, 1756, four volumes, comprising: Volume one: portrait of Giovanni Battista Piranesi after Joseph Cades, double-page frontispiece numbered I (with dedication to Lord Charlemont removed), headpiece, six initials, one illustration, 43 plates numbered II-XLIIII, many folding or double page and two double-page plans; Volume two: title, double-page frontispiece and index numbered I-III and 60 plates numbered IV-LXIII, many double page or folding; Volume three: title, double-page frontispiece numbered I-II and 52 plates numbered III-LIV; Volume four: title, double-page frontispiece and index numbered I-III and 54 plates numbered IV-LVII, many double-page or folding.
Volume V-VI
2. Vedute di Roma (F. 719-853; H. 1-137)
Etchings, 1778, two volumes, double-page title, 136 double-page plates, first Paris edition, apart from H. 8, 10, 11, 15, 19, 25, 31, 41, 43, 46, 55, 59, 68, 70 before the price was erased, one map of Rome and Campus Martius (H. p. 87; Wilton-Ely 1008) and three other plates after Desprez by Francesco Piranesi. A detailed list of the states for each plate is available upon request.
3. Topografia delle fabbriche scoperte nella cittá di Pompei (Le Blanc 7)
Etchings, 1785, seven plates.
Volume VII
4. Della Magnificenza ed architettura de' Romani (F. 927-966)
Etchings, 1761, two titles (Latin and Italian), portrait of Clement XIII, three initials, two tailpieces and 38 plates numbered I-XXXVIII, some folding or double-page.
5. Osservazioni... sopra la lettre di M. Mariette (F. 967-982)
Etchings, 1765-circa 1768, title, three headpieces, three tailpieces and nine plates numbered I-IX, some double-page.
Volume VIII
6. Campus Martius antique urbis (F. 428-479)
Etchings, 1762, title, frontispiece, two headpieces, two tailpieces, two initials and 48 plates numbered I-XLVIII, some double-page or folding including a large folding plan of Rome.
Volumes IX-X
7. Vasi candelabri cippi sarcofagi tripodi lucerne ed ornamenti Antichi (F. 601-718)
Etchings, 1778, two volumes, comprising: Volume one: folded title and 54 plates numbered 2-55, many double-page; Volume two: frontispiece and 54 plates numbered 57-110.
Volume XI
8. Antichità d'Albano e di Castel Gandolfo (F. 505-536)
Etchings, 1764, title, double- page dedication to Clement XIII, initial, headpiece and 27 plates numbered I-XXVI, the last one numbered in pen and ink, many double-page, one folding page.
9. Descrizione e disegno dell' Emissario del Lago Albano [with Appendix: Di due Spelonche ornate dagli antichi all riva del Lago Albano] (F. 480-504)
Etchings, [1762-? 1764], title, initial, tailpiece, headpiece and 21 plates numbered I-IX and I-XII, many double-page or folding.
Volume XII
10. Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi (F. 854-926)
Etchings, 1769, double-page title, headpiece, tailpiece, 66 plates numbered 1-66 mostly of chimney pieces, with four plates showing shells, vases, architectural details and 'avvertisement' leaf with accompanying plate of a chimney piece.
11.Opere varie di Architettura prospettive grotteschi antichità (F. 2-18, 21-24, 121-132)
Etchings, 1750, title with vignette, divisional title and 27 plates numbered 1-27, including ten views on five sheets, two double-page and four double-page Gotteschi, Robison's penultimate states before the addition of the second Roman numeral.
12. Carceri d'Invenzione (F. 24-33, H.1-16, Robison 23-44)
Etchings, circa 1749-1761, double-page title, 15 double-page plates numbered II-XVI, Robison's penultimate states with the Roman numeral before the addition of the numbers in the Firmin Didot edition.
Volume XIII
13. Le Rovine del Castello dell'Acqua Giulia (F. 396-420)
Etchings, 1761, title, two initials, tailpiece and 19 plates on 18 sheets numbered I-XIX.
14. Differentes vues de quelques restes de trois grands édifices qui subsistent encore dans le milieu de l'ancienne ville de Pesto (F. 583-599)
Etchings, 1778, double-page title and 20 plates numbered I-XX, each double-page.
15. Raccolta di Tempi Antichi opera Di Francesco Piranesi architetto Romano prima parte Etchings, circa 1780, vignette title, double-page frontispiece, one initial and 21 plates numbered I-XIII and I-VIII.
Volume XIV
16. Lapides Capitolani (F. 421-427) Etchings, 1762, title, dedication to Clement XIII, headpiece, large folding plate and three etchings in the text.
17. Antichità di Cora (F.537-550)
Etchings, 1764, title, one headpiece, one full-page plate and 10 plates numbered I-X, many double-page, one folding.
18. Statue Antiche
Etchings, circa 1781-1787, 33 plates, two double-page.
19. Raccolta di Disegni del Barberi da Cento detto il Guercino
Etchings, circa 1764, vignette title and 28 plates numbered 2-29 by various artists including Bartolozzi.
Volume XV
20. Trofeo o sia magnifica colonna coclide ( F.551-582)
Etchings, after 1770, two double-page frontispieces numbered I-II, 19 plates numbered III-XXI, 9 other plates unnumbered, many double-page or folding including two very long folding sectional plates of Trajan's column and Antony's column and one plate of Clement XIV by another artist.
21. Monumenti degli Scipioni
Etchings, circa 1785, tailpiece and 6 plates numbered I-VI.
22. Teatro d'Ercolano
Etchings, 1783, double-page title and 9 plates numbered I-IX.
1. Le Antichità Romane (Focillon 144-395; Hind p. 83)
Etchings, 1756, four volumes, comprising: Volume one: portrait of Giovanni Battista Piranesi after Joseph Cades, double-page frontispiece numbered I (with dedication to Lord Charlemont removed), headpiece, six initials, one illustration, 43 plates numbered II-XLIIII, many folding or double page and two double-page plans; Volume two: title, double-page frontispiece and index numbered I-III and 60 plates numbered IV-LXIII, many double page or folding; Volume three: title, double-page frontispiece numbered I-II and 52 plates numbered III-LIV; Volume four: title, double-page frontispiece and index numbered I-III and 54 plates numbered IV-LVII, many double-page or folding.
Volume V-VI
2. Vedute di Roma (F. 719-853; H. 1-137)
Etchings, 1778, two volumes, double-page title, 136 double-page plates, first Paris edition, apart from H. 8, 10, 11, 15, 19, 25, 31, 41, 43, 46, 55, 59, 68, 70 before the price was erased, one map of Rome and Campus Martius (H. p. 87; Wilton-Ely 1008) and three other plates after Desprez by Francesco Piranesi. A detailed list of the states for each plate is available upon request.
3. Topografia delle fabbriche scoperte nella cittá di Pompei (Le Blanc 7)
Etchings, 1785, seven plates.
Volume VII
4. Della Magnificenza ed architettura de' Romani (F. 927-966)
Etchings, 1761, two titles (Latin and Italian), portrait of Clement XIII, three initials, two tailpieces and 38 plates numbered I-XXXVIII, some folding or double-page.
5. Osservazioni... sopra la lettre di M. Mariette (F. 967-982)
Etchings, 1765-circa 1768, title, three headpieces, three tailpieces and nine plates numbered I-IX, some double-page.
Volume VIII
6. Campus Martius antique urbis (F. 428-479)
Etchings, 1762, title, frontispiece, two headpieces, two tailpieces, two initials and 48 plates numbered I-XLVIII, some double-page or folding including a large folding plan of Rome.
Volumes IX-X
7. Vasi candelabri cippi sarcofagi tripodi lucerne ed ornamenti Antichi (F. 601-718)
Etchings, 1778, two volumes, comprising: Volume one: folded title and 54 plates numbered 2-55, many double-page; Volume two: frontispiece and 54 plates numbered 57-110.
Volume XI
8. Antichità d'Albano e di Castel Gandolfo (F. 505-536)
Etchings, 1764, title, double- page dedication to Clement XIII, initial, headpiece and 27 plates numbered I-XXVI, the last one numbered in pen and ink, many double-page, one folding page.
9. Descrizione e disegno dell' Emissario del Lago Albano [with Appendix: Di due Spelonche ornate dagli antichi all riva del Lago Albano] (F. 480-504)
Etchings, [1762-? 1764], title, initial, tailpiece, headpiece and 21 plates numbered I-IX and I-XII, many double-page or folding.
Volume XII
10. Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi (F. 854-926)
Etchings, 1769, double-page title, headpiece, tailpiece, 66 plates numbered 1-66 mostly of chimney pieces, with four plates showing shells, vases, architectural details and 'avvertisement' leaf with accompanying plate of a chimney piece.
11.Opere varie di Architettura prospettive grotteschi antichità (F. 2-18, 21-24, 121-132)
Etchings, 1750, title with vignette, divisional title and 27 plates numbered 1-27, including ten views on five sheets, two double-page and four double-page Gotteschi, Robison's penultimate states before the addition of the second Roman numeral.
12. Carceri d'Invenzione (F. 24-33, H.1-16, Robison 23-44)
Etchings, circa 1749-1761, double-page title, 15 double-page plates numbered II-XVI, Robison's penultimate states with the Roman numeral before the addition of the numbers in the Firmin Didot edition.
Volume XIII
13. Le Rovine del Castello dell'Acqua Giulia (F. 396-420)
Etchings, 1761, title, two initials, tailpiece and 19 plates on 18 sheets numbered I-XIX.
14. Differentes vues de quelques restes de trois grands édifices qui subsistent encore dans le milieu de l'ancienne ville de Pesto (F. 583-599)
Etchings, 1778, double-page title and 20 plates numbered I-XX, each double-page.
15. Raccolta di Tempi Antichi opera Di Francesco Piranesi architetto Romano prima parte Etchings, circa 1780, vignette title, double-page frontispiece, one initial and 21 plates numbered I-XIII and I-VIII.
Volume XIV
16. Lapides Capitolani (F. 421-427) Etchings, 1762, title, dedication to Clement XIII, headpiece, large folding plate and three etchings in the text.
17. Antichità di Cora (F.537-550)
Etchings, 1764, title, one headpiece, one full-page plate and 10 plates numbered I-X, many double-page, one folding.
18. Statue Antiche
Etchings, circa 1781-1787, 33 plates, two double-page.
19. Raccolta di Disegni del Barberi da Cento detto il Guercino
Etchings, circa 1764, vignette title and 28 plates numbered 2-29 by various artists including Bartolozzi.
Volume XV
20. Trofeo o sia magnifica colonna coclide ( F.551-582)
Etchings, after 1770, two double-page frontispieces numbered I-II, 19 plates numbered III-XXI, 9 other plates unnumbered, many double-page or folding including two very long folding sectional plates of Trajan's column and Antony's column and one plate of Clement XIV by another artist.
21. Monumenti degli Scipioni
Etchings, circa 1785, tailpiece and 6 plates numbered I-VI.
22. Teatro d'Ercolano
Etchings, 1783, double-page title and 9 plates numbered I-IX.
Provenance
According to the two letters and typed description bound in the first volume of the Antichità Romane this work was PRESENTED BY PIRANESI TO KING GUSTAVE III OF SWEDEN, WHO WAS THE DEDICATEE. After king Gustave's death, it was purchased from the Dowager queen of Sweden by Lord Strangford, British ambassador in Sweden (from 1817-1819). It subsequently became the property of Lord Macdonald and then Mr William Hookham Carpenter, book seller and keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum in 1845 who bought it from Puttick Simpsons auction house (in business between 1846-1971). Finally the set seems to have belonged to Mr Williams who tried to sell it to Captain Leyland in October 1850. Each volume with Johann Gottfried Schramm Ex libris. A word document transcribing the handwritten letters is available upon request.
Catalogue Note
Together 22 works bound in 15 volumes, folio (550 by 400mm; 21 3/8 by 15 3/8 in). Very good to fine impressions on laid paper with various watermarks cf. Robinson 18, 19, 21, 22, 36, 39, 41, 43, 57, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 75, mostly dated 1770s-circa 1790, uniformly bound in contemporary russia gilt, the covers with wide floral and foliate borders and rounded cornerpieces gilt, gilt turn-ins, gilt edges, bindings slightly rubbed and rebacked.
Born in Mogliano Veneto, then part of the Republic of Venice, Piranesi went to Rome in 1740. He studied with Giuseppe Vasi, who introduced him to the art of etching and engraving. Piranesi became one of the leading protagonists of antiquities and Roman architecture in the 18th century. His aim was to record the vanishing past for scholars and to inspire contemporary designers to emulate the achievements of the past. His work had an important impact on the growth of the neoclassical movement in art and architecture and is still very much admired today.