1765
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Fantasy of a Magnificent Wall Monument is a 1765 chalk by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a tall, fancy wall covered in strange carvings. At the top, six robed figures carry a heavy slab between them. Below, two people fight on a balcony while others look on from round windows. The lines are thick and dark, with some gray shading. The artist used ink and chalk to make it look like stone. The scene feels dramatic but also a little dreamlike. Next, check out Piranesi, Giovanni Battista for more of his odd, detailed designs.
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…
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