GIOVANNI PIRANESI (1720-1778). 18th Century, Damage to verso. - 22" x 16 1/4" sight, 30 1/2" x 24" framed. Estimate $300-400
NOTE: These etchings were issued as a collection of fourteen around 1749–50 and then reissued—after significant reworking—as a set of sixteen in 1761. Populated with indistinguishable figures that emphasize the scale and complexity of the scenes, the final series features greater detail and stronger tonal contrasts, enhancing the works' sinister character. The immensity and ambiguity of these structures reinforces the sense of wonderment that inspired generations of artists, writers, and others to re-assess the majesty and grandeur of classical design.
PROVENANCE: Professor John Hirschfield, Baltimore, MD
