1749
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Catalogo delle Opere Date Finora Alla Lvce Da Gio Battista Piranesi is a 1749 ink by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image is a busy black-and-white print packed with tiny sketches and text. On the left side, there are detailed drawings of ancient Roman ruins like arches, columns, and prisons. The center shows a cityscape with buildings and a river, while the right side lists prices for different prints. The top has fancy lettering in Italian, advertising a collection of Piranesi’s work. The small sketches look like they’re based on real Roman sites, but they’re exaggerated for drama. The text mentions prices in coins, so this was likely sold as a set of prints. The mix of grand ruins and tiny details makes it feel both grand and precise. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Piranesi made these sharp, layered prints.
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (Italian pronunciation: ; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
![The Siege of La Rochelle [plate 13 of 16; set comprises 1952.8.97-112]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/832fb6aa37df6e9d/thumb.webp)
