Giovanni Battista Piranesi(1720-1778)

• Born: 4.10.1720

• Parents: Angelo and Laura Lucchesi

• Birthplace: Mogliano Veneto (Venice)

Background

• Architecture: Under Matteo Lucchesi and Giovanni Scalfarotto

• Etching: Under Carlo Zuchhi

• Stage Design: Under Domenico and Guiseppe Valeriani

Studies

• Married Angela Pasquini, in 1752.

• Children: Francesco – son

Family

Death• Death date: 9.11.1778• Cause: Illness• Buried: Vila of the Knights of Malta, Rome

Style: NeoclassicalNeoclassical Design

(1550 – 1850)

Key Figure in Neoclassical design

• Rational

• Geometrical

• Restrained

• Reflects Modern Conception of Design

Style: Neoclassical• Recreation of classical

design

• Obsessed with ancient Rome.

• Exemplifies simple engineering

Worked as:1740 – studied in rome – Giuseppe Vasi (famous artist) introduced him to etching / engraving.After studies, collaborated with pupils of French Academy in Rome (producing views of city, or “Vedute”)

1747 – opened a workshop in Via del Corso.

1748 – 1774 - created more views of rome (establishing his fame)

1761 – became a member of the Accademia di San Luca (focused on the upbringing of upcoming artists) opened a printing facility, where some of his works were printed.

1769 – Designed seemingly bizarre chimneypieces and designed furniture, establishing himself as a designer.

1776 – Created Piranesi Vase, best known work as a restorer of ancient sculpture.

1777-1778 – published a collection of views of Paestum.

Became famous for:Etchings of Rome

Piranesi, G. B. (1752). Vedute di Roma, pt. I; Views of Rome, pt. I. [Etching]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. Retrieved from ARTstor Online database.

Became famous for:Antiquarianism

Piranesi, G. B. (1756). An Analysis of the Structure of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella [Etching]. Rogers Fund. Retrieved from

The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

Influences• Classical Roman

Architecture

• Archeological Ruins

[Aerial Photograph of the Colosseum in Rome]. (AD 69-80). Alinari/Art Resource, NY. Retrieved from

Oxford Art Onine database.

Piranesi, G. B. (1776). Veduta dell'Anfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo [Etching]. The Elisha Whittelsey

Collection. Retrieved from The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

InfluencesTraditional Italian topographical art & etchings.

Tiepolo, G. M. (1720). Decorative and Architectural Motifs [oil on canvas]. Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford. Retrieved from 

VADS database.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 – 1770)

InfluencesTraditional Italian topographical art & etchings.

Marco Ricci (1676-1729)

Ricci, M. (1705). Landscape [oil on canvas]. Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead. Retrieved from 

VADS database.

InfluencesTraditional Italian topographical art & etchings.

Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697 – 1768)

Canaletto, G. A. (1745). Ruined Bridge with Figures [oil on canvas]. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved from 

VADS database.

Influenced• Hellenic originality

controversy

• European perspective on classical Roman design.

• Neoclassicism

• Archeological methods and illustration techniques

Piranesi, G. B. (1756). An Analysis of the Structure of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella [Etching]. Rogers Fund.

Retrieved from The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

Influenced• Avant-garde British

architecture

• Interior Design

Adams, R (158-67). The Croome Court Tapestry Room [Plaster, Pine, Mahogany, Bronze-gilt, Marble, Lapis Lazuli,

Steel, and Tapestry}. Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Retrieved from

The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

References

Wilton-Ely, J. (1978). The Mind and Art of Giovanni Battiste Piranesi. London: Thames and Hudson.

Ficacci, L. (2006). Piranesi: The etchings. Köln: Taschen.

Dewald, J. (Ed.). (2004). Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World,  New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 

Robinson, A. (1986). Piranesi: Early Architectural Fantasies: A Catologue Raisonne of the Etchings, Chicago

Wilton-Ely, J. (1994). Giovanni Battista Piranesi: The Complete Etchings, San Francisco

Wilton-Ely, J. (1993). Piranesi as Architect and Designer. New York: Pierpont Morgan Library

[Aerial Photograph of the Colosseum in Rome]. (AD 69-80). Alinari/Art Resource, NY. Retrieved from Oxford  Art Onine database.

Heather, H. M. (2010). Designing Piranesi. Eigtheenth-Century Life, 34(3) pp 36-40. Retrieved from Project MUSE.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.) Neoclassicism. Retrieved from http://lilt.ilstu.edu/jhreid/neoclassicism.htm

[Aerial Photograph of the Colosseum in Rome]. (AD 69-80). Alinari/Art Resource, NY. Retrieved from Oxford  Art Onine database.

Piranesi, G. B. (1776). Veduta dell'Anfiteatro Flavio detto il Colosseo [Etching]. The Elisha Whittelsey Collection. Retrieved from  The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

Tiepolo, G. M. (1720). Decorative and Architectural Motifs [oil on canvas]. Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford. Retrieved from 

VADS database.

Edouard, B.F. (ca.1861). Pont du Gard [Albumen silver print from glass negative]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, France. Retrieved from artstor

Ricci, M. (1705). Landscape [oil on canvas]. Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead. Retrieved from VADS database.

Possibly English. (1701-1800). Neo-Classical Mirror. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the State Art Museum of Florida, a division of Florida State Univeristy. Retrieved from Artstor

Canaletto, G. A. (1745). Ruined Bridge with Figures [oil on canvas]. Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved from VADS database.

Polanzani, F. (1750). Portrait of Piranesi as an antique sculpture. Collection Wilton-Ely, J Privite Collection, New York. Piranesi as Architect and Designer. By Wilton-Ely, J. Architecture and Design Library, Wellington, NZ

Parinesi. G. (1743). Roman Architecture-sculpture and ornament, selected examples from Piranesi´s monumental work. Central Saint Martins Museum and study Collection, London. Retrieved from VADS database.

Icthinus, K. (447 BC – 432 BC). Parthenon. VUW Collection, Wellington, NZ. Retrieved from artstor.

Piranesi, G. B. (1756). An Analysis of the Structure of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella [Etching]. Rogers Fund. Retrieved from The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

Adams, R (158-67). The Croome Court Tapestry Room [Plaster, Pine, Mahogany, Bronze-gilt, Marble, Lapis Lazuli, Steel, and Tapestry}. Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Retrieved from The Metropolitan Museum of Art database.

Text Research Imagery Research

Credit.Presenters:

Jess Sehnert, Hugh Inkster, Alexandre Bannwarth, Regan Petrie

Organisation:Regan Petrie

Making of Slideshow:Jess Sehnert, Hugh Inkster, Alexandre Bannwarth, Regan Petrie

Content:Jess Sehnert – Background, studies, family death.

Hugh Inkster – Work, Became famous for.Regan Petrie – Style

Alexandre Bannwarth - Influence