Published to accompany the exhibition held at the British Museum from 20th February to 9th August 2020. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary:
The Venetian-born artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) is best known for his dramatic prints of the architecture and antiquities of his adopted city of Rome, and for the extraordinary flights of spatial fancy in his series 'Le Carceri' (Prisons). But he was also an astonishingly talented draughtsman, as revealed in this outstanding collection of drawings at the British Museum. This book explores the relationship between Piranesi's drawings and prints, and reveals the way in which his style and interests as a draughtsman evolved over time. Some are spontaneous 'primi pensieri', first thoughts that anticipate a bigger work; others explore more complex exercises in perspective and spatial representation. 'Piranesi drawings' reveals the quality and lasting impact of the work of this remarkably influential artist. Exhibition: British Museum, London, UK (20.02.-09.08.2020).
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.