Giovanni Battista Piranesi
1720-1778
Design for a Chimneypiece with Masks, a Bird, and a Rabbit. Verso: View of the Temple of Castor and Pollux at Cori
ca. 1764-1767. Verso: 1763.
7 15/16 x 12 1/4 inches (203 x 311 mm)
Pen and brown ink, over red chalk, on paper; verso: red chalk and black chalk in capital.
1966.11:66
Bequest of Junius S. Morgan and gift of Henry S. Morgan.
Notes
Drawing on verso is a study for the right side of the etching, "Rovine del Tempio de' Castori nella citta di Cora," in "Antichita' di Cora," 1764, f. 541. That drawing was probably made on site when Piranesi visited Cori with Hubert Robert in 1763.
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. This is one of several designs that highlight natural forms, like the bird at left and the creature at lower right, which Piranesi identified with an inscription as a coniglio, or rabbit.
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. This is one of several designs that highlight natural forms, like the bird at left and the creature at lower right, which Piranesi identified with an inscription as a coniglio, or rabbit.
Inscriptions/Markings
Numbered at upper right, inverted, in graphite, "84"; inscribed on verso, within temple entablature, in red chalk, "CASTORI.POLLVCI. DEC.S.FAC / M.CALVIVS.M.F.P.N.".
Watermark: Fleur-de-lis in double circle.
Watermark: Fleur-de-lis in double circle.
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.
Bibliography
Stampfle, Felice. Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Drawings in the Pierpont Morgan Library. New York : Dover, 1978, no. 66, repr.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
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