Artwork
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Giovanni Battista Piranesi is a chalk drawing by the Rococo painting artist Pier Leone Ghezzi. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:all on support by later hand: upper left in pen and brown ink: 33; across bottom in pen and brown ink: Sig.re Gio. Batta Piranesi Architetto, ed Incis.e in Roma
About this work
Overview
This drawing is a portrait of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, created by Pier Leone Ghezzi in 1752. It is executed in pen and brown ink over black chalk on laid paper, mounted on an album page.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Piranesi, an architect and etcher, in 18th-century attire, including a long coat, short pants, and buckled shoes, with a sword at his side. The image is accompanied by a caption identifying Piranesi as an architect and engraver in Rome.
Technique & Style
Ghezzi's use of lines and shading creates a sense of depth, capturing Piranesi's character with concise yet expressive strokes. The artist's style is characterized by minimal lines and an emphasis on distinctive features.
Context
Ghezzi was an Italian Rococo painter and draughtsman known for his portrait drawings and caricatures, establishing him as a pioneer in the latter genre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pier Leone Ghezzi (28 June 1674 – 6 March 1755) was an Italian Rococo painter, draughtsman, printmaker and caricaturist who was mainly active in Rome.
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