Classical Design: Piranesi Vases or Piranesi Urns.

A brilliant classical artist whose work is still admired - even though his name is often unknown. The series of Piranesi Vases, often simply referred to as Urns, will always find a place in classic design.

An 18th century architect by profession, Giovanni Battista Piranesi was a graphic artist of technical brilliance and of great expressive range. At his workshop he restored and designed amazing stone structures. His creations  often combined fantasy themes from his Baroque training, with his Roman archaeological discoveries. Piranesi's extensive work in the field of Roman archaeology was acknowledged by his election to the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Admiration of classical antiquity was reflected in Piranesi's imaginative restoration of the antiquities he found in Rome. Piranesi was commissioned by British patrons as well as wealthy locals, as is indicated in the elegant descriptive script on the copperplate engravings he produced to illustrate his work.

Piranesi's superb series of architectural design pieces are well-defined copperplate engraved illustrations on hand-made paper that were engraved and etched for "Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi y Sarcofagi, Tripodi Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi” published in Rome between 1773 and 1778. They make a dramatic statement in any decor - giving a stylish classical ambience to modern design.

There are many grand original engravings on hand-made paper, available from our website under Antique Prints-Classical/Design at  http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/c-22-classicaldesign.aspx?pagenum=8, or from the Brisbane Antique Emporium in Clayfield (open daily - except on public holidays).

Reproduction prints in the original size are available from the Heritage Editions-Classical/Design at http://www.antiqueprintclub.com/c-46-classicaldesign.aspx?pagenum=2 were printed during the 1990s to satisfy the demand by designers, bringing elegance and timelessness to modern contemporary living spaces.  (Please note that the digital images of our Heritage Editions prints do not do justice to the quality of these recently printed fine quality prints on heavy duty paper.)