We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: E.4127-1908
Find out about our images

Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case SB22, Shelf SH3, Box LL/3

Plate 30, Volume 3

Print
ca. 1750 (engraved), 1803-1807 (produced)
Artist/Maker
Giovanni Piranesi (engraver)
Tessier (bookbinder)
Place of origin
Italy (engraved)
Paris (produced)

Double page landscape format engraving in black and white, showing the ruins of the burial chamber of the freedmen and slaves of the family of Augustus. The back wall is covered with fragments of inscriptions commemorating freedmen and slaves, and the floor is strewn with broken sarcophagi and their brick covers. Skeletons are visible in some of the open sarcophagi, and there are also skulls and bones on the floor. The objects are lettered, with a key in Italian below the image.


Object details

Categories
Prints
Architecture
Archaeology
Death
Object type
Print
TitlePlate 30, Volume 3
Materials and techniques
engraving, paper
Paper
Engraving
Brief description
'Plate 30, Volume 3', engraving from Le Antichita Romane di Giambatista Piranesi, Volume 3, Giovanni Piranesi, ca. 1750, volume bound together in Paris by Tessier, 1803-1807
Physical description
Double page landscape format engraving in black and white, showing the ruins of the burial chamber of the freedmen and slaves of the family of Augustus. The back wall is covered with fragments of inscriptions commemorating freedmen and slaves, and the floor is strewn with broken sarcophagi and their brick covers. Skeletons are visible in some of the open sarcophagi, and there are also skulls and bones on the floor. The objects are lettered, with a key in Italian below the image.
Dimensions
  • Height: 55.4cm (approx)
  • Width: 41.1cm (approx)
Marks and inscriptions
  • Piranesi Architetto dis. ed inc.
  • A Iscrizioni de'Liberti, e Servi della Famiglia di Augusto. B Urna di marmo nella cui parte dinanzi vedesi uno scudo con mezza figura, o sia ritratto, in basso relievo, la faccia del quale apparisce accennata solamente dallo scalpello. Ella e per avventura di quell'Urne, che si preparavano dagli scultori a pubblica richiesta, i quali lasciavano sol tanto indicate le maschere delle figure, per poterle poi terminare secondo i lineamenti della faccia dei defonti, che in quelle doveansi riporre. Le quali tal volta non si terminavano per qualche insorto accidente, come in questa e accaduto, e in molte altre, che sono state ritrovate di simil fatta. C Urna con divisione nel mezzo per collocarvi separatam.te le ceneri di due corpi. D Sarcofago di terra cotta, ritrovato nella prima Stanza con dentro lo scheletro, orecchini, medaglie, et anello. E Tavoloni di cotto, i quali sulpiano cuoprivano de'crani, e delle ossa de'Servi, e d'altri della piu bassa famiglia. F Pezzo di bassorilievo di marmo con maschero di Bacco, con una Fistula, ed altro istromento pastorale. G Tavoloni lavorati nella parte di sopra di mosaico, da quali crano coperti i Sarcophagi. H Altri Sarcophaghi cogli scheletri, Olle ripiene di ceneri, e d'ossa, ritrovate sotto il pavimento delle Camere. Le sopra segnate Iscrizioni, e quelle ancora delle Tavole seguenti delle Camre sepolcli de Liberti, e Servi, e c., si conservano nel Museo di Campidoglio.
Subjects depicted
Burial Chamber
Sarcophagi
Inscriptions
Skeletons
Skulls
Bones
Ruins
Place depicted
Rome
Association
Augustus
Bibliographic references
  • From departmental notes.
  • From the bookbinders' label on the inside cover of Volume 3 of 'Le Antichita Romane di Giambatista Piranesi.'
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.4127-1908

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O792311/plate-30-volume-3-print-giovanni-piranesi/
Download as: JSON