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Madonna and Child with St John

Print
1764 (first published), 1800-1807 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Volume 21 of 27 volumes with Giovanni Battista and Francesco Piranesi works published in Paris by the Calcographie des Piranesi frères (1800-1807).

This volume contains 32 plates (folio and large folio), uniformly bound in red half morocco over marbled boards by Tessier, Paris (label in each volume), spines with raised bands gilt. For the complete set of prints in this volume see accession numbers: E. 4973-5004-1908. The copperplates are in the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome.

Piranesi produced ad signed only the frontispiece (E.4973-1908) and three works (E.4988-1908, E. 4994-1908, E.4995-1908), of which two are after drawings by Guercino and one after Pier Leone Ghezzi, while the other plates are etched by Francesco Bartolozzi and other artists.

The original edition, with 16 plates, was printed with mixed sepia and black ink to give the impression of a facsimile of the drawing. During the course of several reprints, Piranesi added new sheets, including those by other artists, to reach a total of 28 (catalogue of 1792). Francesco added further plates with works by other artists for the first Paris edition.

Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Madonna and Child with St John
  • Collection of several drawings after Barbieri da Cento (known as Guercino) etched on copper and presented to Thomas Jenkins, painter and member of the Academy of St. Luke, out of respect and friendship from his fellow member, the architect Gio. Battista Piranesi (Paris edition) (series title)
  • Raccolta di alcuni disegni del Barbieri da Cento detto il Guercino, incisi in rame, e presentati al singolar merito del Sig. Tommaso Jenkins pittore, ed accademico di S. Luca, in atto di rispetto e d’amicizia dall’architetto e suo coaccademico: Gio. Battista Piranesi (series title)
Materials and techniques
Etching with engraving, ink on paper
Brief description
'Madonna and Child with St John' from a set of 32 plates, 'Raccolta di alcuni disegni del Barberi da Cento detto Il Guercino',vol. XXI, first published Rome, 1764, bound in Paris by Tessier, 1800-1807, etching with engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Rome
Physical description
'Madonna and Child with St John' after a drawing by Guercino in the Piranesi collection
Dimensions
  • Volume height: 570mm
  • Volume width: 425mm
  • Plate height: 31.2cm
  • Plate weight: 41.7cm
270 x 400 mm (plate)
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Apud Equitem Johannem Baptistam Piranesi Guercino da Cento. inv. Piranesi f.
Object history
The collection of volumes was previously owned by architect Decimus Burton (1800-1881) and his bookplate is pasted in the inside cover of this volume.
Production
Lettered on the spine of the volume: ‘G. PIRANESI/ LE / ANTICHITA’/ ROMANE/ VOL.XXI’

This volume of prints was bound by Tessier bookbinders, Paris, and has their trade label pasted on the inside cover of the volume: Rue de la Harpe, Au-dessus de celle de Médecine, no. 132; Tessier/ Relieur et doureur/ De la Trésorerie nationale du Bureau/ de la Guerre/ et Calcographie piranesi/ A Paris'
Association
Summary
Volume 21 of 27 volumes with Giovanni Battista and Francesco Piranesi works published in Paris by the Calcographie des Piranesi frères (1800-1807).

This volume contains 32 plates (folio and large folio), uniformly bound in red half morocco over marbled boards by Tessier, Paris (label in each volume), spines with raised bands gilt. For the complete set of prints in this volume see accession numbers: E. 4973-5004-1908. The copperplates are in the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome.

Piranesi produced ad signed only the frontispiece (E.4973-1908) and three works (E.4988-1908, E. 4994-1908, E.4995-1908), of which two are after drawings by Guercino and one after Pier Leone Ghezzi, while the other plates are etched by Francesco Bartolozzi and other artists.

The original edition, with 16 plates, was printed with mixed sepia and black ink to give the impression of a facsimile of the drawing. During the course of several reprints, Piranesi added new sheets, including those by other artists, to reach a total of 28 (catalogue of 1792). Francesco added further plates with works by other artists for the first Paris edition.
Bibliographic references
  • John Wilton-Ely, Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The Complete Etchings, 2 vols., 1st ed., San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 1994
Other number
M-1400_926b - Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome – matrix inventory number
Collection
Accession number
E.4988-1908

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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