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Plate 26, Volume 3

Print
ca. 1750 (printed), 1803-1807 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Double page landscape format engraving in black and white, depicting a view of the burial chamber of the freedmen and slaves of the family of Augustus. Sepulchral niches are arranged in rows along the walls, and there are three recesses on the back wall, the middle one with an apse in the form of a shell. A wide ledge runs around the middle of the walls, allowing access to the higher niches. Four men in eighteenth century dress are excavating and recording the site. Ground level can be seen near the top of the engraving, showing that the tomb is underground. An Italian inscription at the bottom of the engraving explains features of the scene.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePlate 26, Volume 3
Materials and techniques
engraving, paper
Brief description
'Plate 26, Volume 3', engraving from Le Antichita Romane di Giambatista Piranesi, Volume 3, drawn by Antonio Buonamici, engraved by Girolamo Rossi, ca. 1750, volume bound together in Paris by Tessier, 1803-1807
Physical description
Double page landscape format engraving in black and white, depicting a view of the burial chamber of the freedmen and slaves of the family of Augustus. Sepulchral niches are arranged in rows along the walls, and there are three recesses on the back wall, the middle one with an apse in the form of a shell. A wide ledge runs around the middle of the walls, allowing access to the higher niches. Four men in eighteenth century dress are excavating and recording the site. Ground level can be seen near the top of the engraving, showing that the tomb is underground. An Italian inscription at the bottom of the engraving explains features of the scene.
Dimensions
  • Height: 55.4cm (approx)
  • Width: 41.1cm (approx)
Marks and inscriptions
Antonio Buonamici delin. / Girolamo Rossi sculp.
Object history
This image depicts the columbarium (underground burial chamber) of the freedmen of Livia, which was discovered on the Via Appia in Rome in around 1725.

This print was originally published in Francesco Bianchini's 'Camere ed Inscrizioni Sepulchrali', Rome: GM Salvioni, 1727. Piranesi purchased the copper plate and reprinted the illustration in his 'Antichita Romane'.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Associations
Bibliographic references
  • From departmental notes.
  • From the bookbinders' label on the inside cover of Volume 3 of 'Le Antichita Romane di Giambatista Piranesi.'
Collection
Accession number
E.4123-1908

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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