“Carceri d’invenzione di G. Battista Piranesi archit. vene. – Imaginary Prisons of G. Battista Piranesi, Venetian Architect”
Carceri VIII: The Staircase with Trophies
A large vault with a multi-storey staircases, trophies are displayed on both sides of the staircase and flags waving above. Daylight illuminates the mighty stone staircase and the people lamenting in the foreground.
The light-filled dungeon rooms of the first edition were darkened by the increasing "chiaroscuro". Here is an early state before the artist's further reworking!
Finely executed copper engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) Strada Felice, vicino Trinitá dé Monti, Rome, c. 1761. Printed on fine laid paper, roman number: VIII in the upper right of the image. Artist's signature in the lower left margin of the engraved plate: Piranesi f.
Sheet size: 73,5 x 53 cm, print size: 55,6 x 40,5 cm
Fine impression, usual smoothed centrefold, wide margins, very good condition.
sold
Ref.: Hind, Arthur: Piranesi, Carceri 8/II; Ficacci, Luigi: Piranesi, Carceri 27; Piranesi-Staircase, Metropolitan Museum of Art; Piranesi/Carceri 8 II: Karl & Faber