Exhibitions
Master Impressions from the UAMA Collections:
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
February 2 - May 1, 2011
Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720 - 1778)
Portici tirati dintorno ad un Foro con palazzo regio.
(Porticoes surrounding a forum with a royal palace.)
early 1760s, etching
Museum Purchase with Funds Provided By the Edward J. Gallagher, Jr., Memorial Fund
An etcher, engraver, architect, archeologist and theorist, Giovanni Battista Piranesi created a unique vision of ancient Rome that has inspired writers and poets as much as artists and designers since the 18th century.
Born in Venice in 1720 and trained as an engineer and architect, Piranesi also studied perspective and stage design. The combination of these skills, along with his deep knowledge of archaeology, provided the background for hundreds of etchings of ancient and contemporary Rome. Published from 1745 onwards, these works established a thoroughly romanticized image of the city. The scenes are invested with drama from the exaggerated contrasts of light and shadow, and the exploitation of scale makes the buildings appear large and grand. Piranesi’s work has always been extremely popular and his etchings are still actively collected today.
Sometimes referred to as the Ten Small Architectural Fantasies, these works shown here were produced as a set for traveling noblemen and connoisseurs. Sets such as this one were frequent gifts from the Pope to distinguished guests.
Master Impressions from the UAMA Collections: This series of small, rotating presentations showcases the exceptional breadth and depth of the UAMA Old Master print collection. These selections offer focused consideration of a particularly significant artist or theme, and elucidate some of the most influential developments in the Western printmaking tradition.
See the related exhibitions: Master Impressions from the UAMA Collections
Visit our Exhibition History page for information on past exhibitions at UAMA.