Interior view of the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, from Views of Rome - Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Clarence Buckingham Collection

"Interior view of the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, from Views of Rome" by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1768, published 1800–07) Etching on heavy ivory laid paper.

Commentary

"Interior view of the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, from Views of Rome" by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1768, published 1800–07) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, texture, and co ntrast do most of the expressive work. Themes to notice include etching. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Giovanni Battista Piranesi is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778) published by Francesco (Italian, 1758-1810) and Pietro Piranesi (Italian, born 1758/9). The work is cataloged within a Italy cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as etching, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Etching on heavy ivory laid paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Image: 42.8 × 67.5 cm (16 7/8 × 26 5/8 in.); Plate: 43.3 × 67.9 cm (17 1/16 × 26 3/4 in.); Sheet: 55.7 × 78.4 cm (21 15/16 × 30 7/8 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include etching. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/64592

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data