Giovanni Battista Piranesi
1720-1778
Design for a Chimneypiece with Elephant Heads, and a Sketch for a Pilaster with a Lion Head
ca. 1764-1767
8 3/8 x 12 11/16 inches (213 x 322 mm)
Pen and brown ink, over black chalk, on paper.
1966.11:61
Bequest of Junius S. Morgan and gift of Henry S. Morgan.
Notes
Drawing is on fragment of an etching by Giovanni Ottaviani (ca. 1735-1808) after Guercino (1591-1666).
While some of the Morgan's drawings relate to the published plates of the Diverse maniere, others represent further ideas and variations for chimneypiece designs. The chimneypiece was a modern architectural form, but it was also something of a blank canvas to which Piranesi could apply his ideas for ornament drawn from nature and from Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman sources. This example, making use of elephant and lion heads, is one of several designs that highlight natural forms.
While some of the Morgan's drawings relate to the published plates of the Diverse maniere, others represent further ideas and variations for chimneypiece designs. The chimneypiece was a modern architectural form, but it was also something of a blank canvas to which Piranesi could apply his ideas for ornament drawn from nature and from Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman sources. This example, making use of elephant and lion heads, is one of several designs that highlight natural forms.
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed at lower right, in pen and brown ink, "rotta de c... / carioni(?)".
Associated names
Morgan, Jane Norton, 1868-1925, former owner.
Morgan, Junius Spencer, 1892-1960, former owner.
Morgan, Henry S. (Henry Sturgis), 1900-1982, former owner.
Morgan, Junius Spencer, 1892-1960, former owner.
Morgan, Henry S. (Henry Sturgis), 1900-1982, former owner.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Catalog link
Department