Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778), in collaboration with his
son, Francesco Piranesi (1758–1810)
“Rear View of the Remains of the Pronaos of the Temple of Neptune,
Drawn in the Two Preceding Plates” or “Vue des Restes du
Derrière du Pronaos du Temple de Neptune Dessiné dans les Deux Planches
Précédentes”, 1778
Regarding the contributions made by both printmakers in the execution
of the series, Wilton-Ely (1994) notes: “…the architecture is clearly by
Giambattista’s hand, as are the vegetation and fragments. The figure, on the
other hand, are somewhat coarse, being awkwardly drawn in a broad outline and
rather similar to those in Francesco’s later etched works.” (p. 777)
Technical Details & Condition:
Etching is on heavy wove paper with wide margins, bearing the blind-stamp of
the “Regia Calcografia” of 1870, featuring the central emblem of the Savoy
shield surmounted by the Royal Crown of Italy. It is plate XIV (14) from the
series Différentes vues de quelques Restes de trois grands Edifices qui
subsistent encore dans le milieu de l'ancienne Ville de Pesto autrement
Posidonia, which translates to Different views of some of the remains of
three great edifices that still exist at the centre of the ancient city of
Pesto, or Posidonia (Paestum), in Lucania.
The impression is richly inked and nearly faultlessly printed. There
are minor marks and stains in the margins; otherwise, the sheet remains in
excellent condition for its large size, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions,
or significant stains.
Dimensions:
• Sheet: 59 x 76.2 cm
• Platemark: 49.8 x 67.5 cm
• Image Borderline: 46.8 x 66.9 cm
Plate Lettering:
• Upper left: “Planche XIV.”
• Upper right: “675”
• Within the image borderline: indexed with alphabetical letters from “A” to “D”
• Upper right: “675”
• Lower centre: “Vue des restes du derriere du Pronaos du Temple de Neptune
desiné dans les deux planches précédentes. A Pilastre/ rendu d’une proportion
plus élégante que celui B. L’on trouve à côte d’eux, les restes C des Murs
internes de la/ Celle. D Restes de deux rangs de Colonnes que étoient situées
dan la Celle du Temple. Cav. Piranesi F.”
Translation:
“View of the remains of the rear of the Pronaos of the Temple of Neptune
depicted in the two preceding plates. A. Pilaster/ rendered in a more elegant
proportion than that B. Next to them are the remains C of the internal walls of
the/ Cell. D. Remains of two rows of columns that were located in the Cell of
the Temple. Cav. Piranesi F.”
References:
• Wilton-Ely 732 (John Wilton-Ely, Giovanni Battista Piranesi: The Complete
Etchings, vol. I, 1994, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy, p. 794, cat. no. 731)
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1886-1124-184
• Royal Academy: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/vue-des-restes-du-derriere-du-pronaos-du-temple-de-neptune-2
Price & Shipping:
AU$763 (approximately US$535.36 / €445.53 / £387.25), including
worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.
If you are interested in acquiring this strikingly powerful and
impressively large etching, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com.
I will be happy to send a PayPal invoice to facilitate an easy purchase.
