Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) - Veduta interna della Stanza.....di Augusto

"Internal view of the room adjacent to the burial chamber of the freedmen and servants of the Augustus family",
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Large and refined double impression, using 2 plates (one for the subject and one for the writing) etching on copper with burin interventions, laid paper with watermark "Casina with three birds", Italian paper from 1800/09, in very good condition conservative state, intact sheet with wide editorial margins, normal traces of use over time, normal central editorial fold
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The composition of the image is obtained with an overlap of planes, according to the recurring trompe l'œil effect used by Piranesi. With fantastic cuts of light.
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Inscription: "View of the room adjacent to the sepulchral chamber of the Freedmen and Servants of the Family of Aug. to the Room. . . . . . . G. Terracotta sarcophagi with skeletons inside"
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Below right: Piranesi Arch. to dis. and inc.
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Top right: XXXIX / left: Tome. III
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From the series: "Roman Antiquities" 1756 in 4 volumes
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Biblical: Focillon 321; Wilton-Ely 454; Taschen 310;
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Large sheet 80x57. 7 cm
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From private collection
Work accompanied by certificate of authenticity
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Giovanni Battista Piranesi was a leading figure in the development of the neoclassical style at the end of the 18th century. As an architect, archaeologist, artist, designer, collector and dealer of antiquities, he produced a series of etchings and engravings depicting the glories of ancient Rome.
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His romanticized views and imaginary interiors had a profound effect on stage designers, caprice painters such as Hubert Robert, and even writers: William Beckford, the author of the Gothic novel, and Vathek.
In the 20th century its imaginary interiors were admired by the surrealists
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#artmasterpiece. Q2