Vaso Antico della Galleria Farnese

Original 18th century lithograph done by Giovan Battista Piranesi.

Representation of the vase in the centre, description below "Ancient marble vase seen in the Galleria Farnese. Priestesses and Priestesses dancing around Bacchus. Dedicated to Mrs. Harriot Walter J."

It was part of the series "Vases, candlesticks, memorial stones, sarcophagi, tripods, oil lamps and ancient ornaments." Vol II

86x70 cm with frame.  Signature printed lower left. 

Good conditions.

Giovan battista Piranesi (1720-1778) : One of the greatest printmakers of the 18th century, Piranesi always considered himself an architect. The son of a stonemason, he received extensive training in structural and hydraulic engineering, perspective

construction, and stagedesign. Upon his arrival inRome in 1740, he apprenticed briefly under Giuseppe Vasi, a well-known creator of the etched views of Rome. Quickly mastering the medium of etching, Piranesi went on reconstructing the ancient Rome in

painstaking detail. Although best known for his architectural works, Piranesi also made significant contributions to the development of the decorative arts. Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi... is among his most important works, inspired by his admiration of antiquities.