Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style: Jambs surmounted by busts, and the wall above ornamented with a star pattern
Print
1769 (first published), 1803-1807 (published)
1769 (first published), 1803-1807 (published)
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This print is from Diverse ways of ornamenting chimneypieces and all other parts of houses taken from Egyptian, Etruscan, and Grecian architecture, a bound volume of etchings by Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
The prints comprise Volume 20 of 27 folio volumes published in Paris by the Calcographie des Piranesi frères (1800-1807). This volume contains 49 plates, uniformly bound in red half morocco over marbled boards by Tessier, Paris, spines with raised bands gilt. For the complete set of prints in this volume see accession numbers: E.4924-4972-1908. The copper plates are in the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome.
The plates include designs for chimneypieces, clocks, and furniture, applying classical motifs to contemporary interiors. The Diverse Maniere d’Adornare i Cammini (1769) features 61 chimneypiece designs for patrons such as the Earl of Exeter and John Hope, incorporating Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian-style elements, including decorations for the Caffè degli Inglesi.
The volume also includes over 100 designs for furniture and decorative objects, intended for cohesive interiors. Surviving works, such as the side-table designs for Cardinal Rezzonico (now in Minneapolis and Amsterdam), demonstrate Piranesi’s impact on neoclassical design.
The prints comprise Volume 20 of 27 folio volumes published in Paris by the Calcographie des Piranesi frères (1800-1807). This volume contains 49 plates, uniformly bound in red half morocco over marbled boards by Tessier, Paris, spines with raised bands gilt. For the complete set of prints in this volume see accession numbers: E.4924-4972-1908. The copper plates are in the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome.
The plates include designs for chimneypieces, clocks, and furniture, applying classical motifs to contemporary interiors. The Diverse Maniere d’Adornare i Cammini (1769) features 61 chimneypiece designs for patrons such as the Earl of Exeter and John Hope, incorporating Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian-style elements, including decorations for the Caffè degli Inglesi.
The volume also includes over 100 designs for furniture and decorative objects, intended for cohesive interiors. Surviving works, such as the side-table designs for Cardinal Rezzonico (now in Minneapolis and Amsterdam), demonstrate Piranesi’s impact on neoclassical design.
Object details
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| Materials and techniques | Etching with engraving, ink on paper |
| Brief description | 'Chimneypiece in the Egyptian style: Jambs surmounted by busts, and the wall above ornamented with a star pattern', plate 21 from a set of 49 plates, G. Piranesi, Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi desunte dall'architettura Egizia, Etrusca e Greca, vol.XX, bound in Paris by Tessier, 1803-1807, etching with engraving, by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Rome |
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| Object history | The collection of volumes was previously owned by architect Decimus Burton (1800-1881). |
| Production | Lettered on the spine of the volume: ‘ LE / ANTICHITA’/ ROMANE / G. PIRANESI / VOL.XX’ Francesco and Pietro Piranesi set up the Calcographie des Piranèse Frères in Paris after having fled Rome in 1799. The Calcographie was active between 1800 and 1810. This volume of prints was bound by Tessier bookbinders, Paris. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This print is from Diverse ways of ornamenting chimneypieces and all other parts of houses taken from Egyptian, Etruscan, and Grecian architecture, a bound volume of etchings by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The prints comprise Volume 20 of 27 folio volumes published in Paris by the Calcographie des Piranesi frères (1800-1807). This volume contains 49 plates, uniformly bound in red half morocco over marbled boards by Tessier, Paris, spines with raised bands gilt. For the complete set of prints in this volume see accession numbers: E.4924-4972-1908. The copper plates are in the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome. The plates include designs for chimneypieces, clocks, and furniture, applying classical motifs to contemporary interiors. The Diverse Maniere d’Adornare i Cammini (1769) features 61 chimneypiece designs for patrons such as the Earl of Exeter and John Hope, incorporating Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian-style elements, including decorations for the Caffè degli Inglesi. The volume also includes over 100 designs for furniture and decorative objects, intended for cohesive interiors. Surviving works, such as the side-table designs for Cardinal Rezzonico (now in Minneapolis and Amsterdam), demonstrate Piranesi’s impact on neoclassical design. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | M-1400_889a - Istituto Centrale per la Grafica, Rome – matrix inventory number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.4944-1908 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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