Ancient Roman Marble Vase: 18th C. Etching Vaso Cinerario Di Gran Mole by Giovanni Piranesi, 1768-1778

Description

"Vaso Cinerario di Gran Mole. Le Teste dei Giovenchi mostrano di reggere it pesante Festone composto di Frutti Fiori Grans … more "Vaso Cinerario di Gran Mole. Le Teste dei Giovenchi mostrano di reggere it pesante Festone composto di Frutti Fiori Grans ed use. Il tuto Necefsario all Vita Umana. Il Restante degli Ornamenti com Gliuccelli Formano un Vago Intreccio nel Corpo del Vaso" is an etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, first published in Rome in 1768. It is plate 38 from Piranesi's monumental work "Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne, Ed Ornamenti Antichi", (Vases, candelabra, grave stones, sarcophagi, tripods, lamps, and ancient ornaments). It depicts an ancient Roman marble cinary vase. The vase is quite elaborate with ornate sweeping handles, a lid and it is decorated with the two rams heads, two birds, fruit (perhaps a cluster of grapes), vines and flowers. The inscription at the top reads: "Al Signor Guglielmo Constable Cavaliere Inglese amatore delle belle Arti. In atto d'Ossequio il Cavaliere Gio. Bata Piranesi D.D.D.", which roughly translates: To Mr. Guglielmo Constable English Knight, lover of fine arts. In the act of homage from the Knight Gio. Bata Piranesi D.D.D. Piranesi was, in fact, knighted by the Pope in 1765 and he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in England in 1757.
The etching is printed on heavy laid, chain-linked, watermarked paper. There is a barely visible central horizontal fold, as issued. It has been trimmed just outside the plate marks and there is faint spotting throughout. There is a 1.75" vertical linear mark in the upper margin on the left which most likely occurred at the time of printing. The print is otherwise in very good condition. less