Carceri D'Invenzione Di G. Battista Piranesi Archit Vene

RA Collection: Book

Record number

03/2708

Imprint

[Roma]: Presso l'Autore a Strada Felice vicino alla Trinità de' monti , Fogli sedici, al prezzo di paoli venti., [early 1770s].

Physical Description

16 pl. (incl. t.-pl.); 538×748 mm. (Broadsheet.)

Responsibility Note

Some plates are signed 'Piranesi F', or 'Piranesi f' (pl. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13). Plate II only carries the publisher's imprint, 'Presso l'Autore a Strada Felice vicino alla Trinità de' monti, Fogli sedici, al prezzo di paoli venti'.

References

National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard, 4 (2000), 82; RIBA, Early printed, 3 (1999), 2558; Giovanni Battista Piranesi: the complete etchings, ed. J. Wilton-Ely (1994), 26-41; A. Robison, Piranesi: early architectural fantasies (1986), 29-44; J. Wilton-Ely, Piranesi [exhibition catalogue] (1978), 178-191, 198-213; A.M. Hind, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1922 repr. 1978), p. [24]-29, 81; H. Focillon, Giovanni-Battista Piranesi (1918, repr. 1964), 24-39.

Summary Note

The first edition, consisting of 14 plates (including the title-plate), had been published by Giovanni 'Buzard' [i.e. Bouchard] in 1749 or 1750, under the title, Invenzioni capric di carceri. The present copy of the second, heavily reworked edition with two additional plates (pl. II and V), corresponds to Robison's third issue, which he dates to the early 1770s.

Provenance

Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802.

Binding Note

Now disbound, and housed separately. Formerly in 18th-century binding; bound with Piranesi's Le Rovine Del Castello Dell' Acqua Giulia (1761), Lapides Capitolini (1762), Opere Varie Di Architettura (1760s), Grotteschi (1760s) and Antichità Romane De' Tempi Della Repubblica (1760s?).

Name as Subject

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Subject

Prisons - Fantastic architecture - Italy - History - 18th century
Drawings - Fantastic art - Capricci - Italy - 18th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century