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Le antichità romane
Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778)
Etched by: Francesco (Felice) Polanzani (Italian, 1700–after 1783)
Etched by: Jean Barbault (French, worked in Italy, about 1705–1766)
Etched by: Girolamo Rossi II (Italian, 1682–after 1762)
After: Antonio Buonamici (Italian, 18th century)
Author: Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778)
Printer: Angelo Rotili (Italian, 18th century)
Publisher: Giovanni Bouchard (French, worked in Italy, 18th century)
Etched by: Francesco (Felice) Polanzani (Italian, 1700–after 1783)
Etched by: Jean Barbault (French, worked in Italy, about 1705–1766)
Etched by: Girolamo Rossi II (Italian, 1682–after 1762)
After: Antonio Buonamici (Italian, 18th century)
Author: Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778)
Printer: Angelo Rotili (Italian, 18th century)
Publisher: Giovanni Bouchard (French, worked in Italy, 18th century)
1756
Place of Publication: Rome, Italy
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book [4 vols] with 252 etchings
Dimensions
Overall (each volume): 55 x 42 x 5 cm (21 5/8 x 16 9/16 x 1 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Miss A. E. Ticknor
Accession NumberBR208-211
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Rome: Angelo Rotili for Giovanni Bouchard, 1756
Catalogue Raisonné
Focillon 144-395; Hind, Piranesi, pp. 83-84
Description(Rome: Angelo Rotili for Giovanni Bouchard, 1756) Folio, four volumes; [Vol. 1] 36 letterpress leaves, plus 45 plates (some folding, some with two prints per folio); [v. 2] 63 plates (some folding); [v. 3] 54 plates (some folding); [v. 4] 58 plates (some folding); nineteenth-century half gilt-stamped brown calf, marbled paper boards (gilt-stamped brown calf labels on upper covers).
Illustrations of ancient sepulchral monuments with plans, elevations, views, and inscriptions; reconstructed views of engineering methods; portrayals of construction of ancient Roman bridges, theaters, baths, etc.
First edition, the watermarks in the plates probably date this issue to the 1760s. The dedications to Lord Charlemont on the etched frontispieces have been effaced, as is the case with all but the earliest issues. The portrait of Piranesi in vol. 1 is etched by Polanzani. Hind notes that Barbault assisted in the figural depictions in plates in vols. 2-3; further, pls. 23-26 in vol. 3 were etched by Rossi after Buonamici.
Illustrations of ancient sepulchral monuments with plans, elevations, views, and inscriptions; reconstructed views of engineering methods; portrayals of construction of ancient Roman bridges, theaters, baths, etc.
First edition, the watermarks in the plates probably date this issue to the 1760s. The dedications to Lord Charlemont on the etched frontispieces have been effaced, as is the case with all but the earliest issues. The portrait of Piranesi in vol. 1 is etched by Polanzani. Hind notes that Barbault assisted in the figural depictions in plates in vols. 2-3; further, pls. 23-26 in vol. 3 were etched by Rossi after Buonamici.
ProvenanceGeorge Ticknor, Boston (1791-1871); Miss A. E. Ticknor, Boston, by whom given to MFA, June, 1885.