Diverse Maniere D'Adornare I Cammini Ed Ogni Altra Parte Degli Edifizi Desunte Dall'Architettura Egizia, Etrusca, E Greca Con Un Ragionamento Apologetico In Difesa Dell'Architettura Egizia, E Toscana Opera Del Cavaliere Giambattista Piranesi Architetto. Divers Manners of Ornamenting Chimneys And All Other Parts Of Houses Taken From The Egyptian, Tuscan, and Grecian Architecture With An Apologetical Essay In Defence Of The Egyptian And Tuscan Architecture By John Baptist Piranesi Knight And Architect. Differentes manieres D'Orner Les Cheminées Et Toute Autre Partie Des Edifices Tirées De L'Architecture Egyptienne, Etrusque, Et Greque Avec Un Discours Apologetique En Faveur De L'Architecture Egyptienne, Et Toscane Par Le Chevalier Jean Baptiste Piranesi Architect.

RA Collection: Book

Record number

03/2735

Author

Variant Title

Divers Manners Of Ornamenting Chimneys And All Other Parts Of Houses
Differentes Manieres D'Orner Les Cheminées Et Toute Autre Partie Des Edifices

Imprint

In Roma: MDCCLXIX., Nella Stamperia Di Generoso Salomoni Con Licenza De' Superiori.

Physical Description

[4], 30, [2], 31-35, [1] p., etch. dedic., 2, 1, [67] [i.e. 68] pl.; illus.; 538 mm. (Broadsheet).

General Note

The first two plates, facing p. 21, are numbered 'Tavola I' and 'Tavola II'; the third, facing p.31, is numbered 'Tavola I'. The text is followed by a further 68 plates on 67 sheets. In the Royal Academy's copy more than half of these are unnumbered, and the other thirty are not bound in in the order of the numbers engraved on them. They appear as follows: [4 blanks], 27, [2 blanks], 34, 42, 38, 1, 31, 22, 18, 13, [1 blank], 14, [1 blank], 15, 16, [1 blank], 19, [6 blanks], 20, 21, 24, [1 blank], 25, 26, 28, [1 blank], 29, 30, 32, [1 blank], 33, 35, 36, [1 blank], 39, [1 blank], 41, 43, 44, 46, [17 blank].

[Engr. dedic. (dble.), t.p., dedic.] - Ragionamento Apologetico / An Apologetical Essay / Discours Apologètique [with 3 plates] - Imprimatur - Indice / Index / Table - [Plates].

Responsibility Note

The dedication plate and all but four of the other plates are signed as designed and engraved by Piranesi. The headpiece and tailpiece are unsigned.

Both dedications (engraved and printed) are from Piranesi to Giovambatista Rezzonico.

References

National Gallery (Washington), Mark J. Millard, 4 (2000), 100; RIBA, Early printed books, 3 (1999), no. 2556; Giovanni Battista Piranesi: the complete etchings, ed. J. Wilton-Ely (1994), 815-887; J. Wilton-Ely, Piranesi [exhibition catalogue] (1978), 224-269, 276-279; A.M. Hind, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1922 repr. 1978), 86; H. Focillon, Giovanni-Battista Piranesi (1918 repr. 1964), 854-926.

On eighteenth-century interest in Egyptian styles see: Egyptomania [exhibition catalogue] (1994); The inspiration of Egypt: its influence on British artists ... 1700-1900 [exhibition catalog] (1983); R. Wittkower, 'Piranesi and eighteenth-century Egyptomania', in Studies in the Italian Baroque (1975), p. 259-73.

Summary Note

In the text Piranesi argues for an Etruscan or Egyptian origin for decoration.

The plates of the chimneys (several showing two chimney-pieces) are followed by plates showing various items of furniture (sideboards, clocks, vases, candelabra &c.), sedan-chairs and coaches. Several plates show chimney-pieces in Egyptianising taste, and include two which show not chimneys but the Egyptianising wall-decorations executed for the Caffè degli Inglesi. The latter were not to everyone's taste - the British painter Thomas Jones describing them as 'fitter to adorn the inside of an Egyptian sepulchre than a room of social conversation'. The unsigned tail-piece is full of satiric references to Bertrand Capmartin de Chaupy's Découverte de la maison de campagne d'Horace (1767-9).

Provenance

Acquired between 1769 and 1802. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).

Copy Note

The Index has been bound in in the middle of the Ragionamento, between pages 30 and 31.

Binding Note

18th-century mottled calf, the upper cover gilt-stamped with royal arms of Britain and 'R.A.'; rebacked in 20th century, red and green morocco spine-lables lettered 'Cammini Antich Di Cora Candelabra Piranesi', spine lettered 'R.A.' Bound with Piranesi's Antichità di Cora (1764), Trofei Di Ottaviano Augusto and Candelabri.

Name as Subject

Bertrand Capmartin de Chaupy, Découverte de la maison de campagne d'Horace

Subject

Chimneys - Interior Decoration - Decorative arts - Furniture - Sedan chairs - Italy - 18th century - Egyptian Revival
Decorative arts - Egypt - Italy - Tuscany - Egyptians - Etruscans - History
Designs - Pattern books - Italy - Rome - 18th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 18th century
Armorial bindings - Great Britain - 18th century