Five 18th century views of Rome by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778)
Lot includes: three engravings / etchings from Piranesi s Views of Rome: 1. View of the Mausoleum of the Emperor Hadrian (now called Castel S. Angelo) from the rear; ca. 1756. 2. Veduta Interna del Sepolcro di S. Costanza, ca. 1750. 3. Veduta interna del Panteon … (Interior View of the Pantheon) ca. 1768. 4. Foro di Augusto, ca. 1760. plate 15. 5. Tempio di Giove tonante in Roma, ca. plate 7. Both 4 and 5 are etchings on a copper matrix. On the plate, on the top left corner “Tav. 7”, title and author’s indication at the bottom right corner. These two etchings are from a series of 32 plates with views of buildings erected by the Ancient Romans in Rome and different Italian places. The collection is considered the second expanded edition of a series of 30 sheets, published by Piranesi in 1748, and titled ‘Antichità romane de’ tempi della Repubblica, e de’ primi Imperatori [. . .] ’. Bettagno placed the change of title, doubtfully, in the mid-1760s. Hind dates the edition of ‘Alcune vedute [. . .] ’ between 1778 and 1792, specifying that the plates (compared to the 1748 print) were revised by the author, and that the series was enriched with two new images (one of which was made by the master’s son, Francesco) . Bettagno notes that most of the plates in the series were made in the 1740s.
sheets: 20 x 22 1/8 in. (50.8 x 56.2 cm);
Provenance:
Property from a Private Hancock Park Collection.

All five uniformly matted and framed. Largest (3) 32 x 27 in. (81 x 69 cm) smaller (2) 24 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. (62 x 19 cm). All 5 in very good to near fine overall condition.