• Catalogo delle opere date finora alla luce da Gio. Battista Piranesi, 1761 [c. 1776]

Curatorial Notes:
  • With the Catalogo delle opere, Piranesi turned the list of his works into one of those works. After he moved to his own premises near the Spanish Steps in 1761, Piranesi created this print as an advertisement. It lists Piranesi’s books and prints, together with their prices, against a backdrop featuring some of his wares. He sent copies of it to potential clients to use as an order form and he inserted copies into his books. As Piranesi’s stock grew, so did the etched list of titles, and the plate went through dozens of state changes. Early impressions have a blank space below the list of the Vedute di Roma, which Piranesi used to inscribe customers’ names. In later impressions, the titles cover every available surface and leap out of the bounds of the original plate onto a second plate added to the bottom of the sheet.
Date:
  • 1776
Format:
  • Book
Type:
  • Catalogs
  • Broadsides
  • Engravings
  • Etchings
Extent:
  • 1 sheet : ill. (engravings) ; 57 x 44 cm.
Creator:
Publisher:
  • [Rome : G.-B. Piranesi, 1776?].
Language:
  • Italian
Subject:
  • Piranesi, Giovanni Battista, 1720-1778
  • Prints—Italy—Catalogs
  • Broadsides—Italy—18th century
  • Engravings—Italy—18th century
  • Etchings—Italy—18th century
Author:
  • Piranesi, Giovanni Battista, 1720-1778
References:
  • Giovanni Battista Piranesi e la veduta a Roma e a Venezia / M. Cordaro. 1990, p. 151.
  • Piranesi, Rome recorded / M. Campbell, A. Ceen. (1990), p. 125, cat. no. 125.
Description:
  • Piranesi's so-called catalogo inciso is an historiated listing (image: 39 x 29 cm.) with the line: "Si vendoño presso il medesimo autore nel palazzo del Conte Tomati a Strada Felice, vicino alla Trinità de' Monti" in the lower frame line.
  • Below the principal listing there appears another plate continuing the numbered listing to [125], titled "Veduta dello Sbocca della Cloaca Massima", and in the right column listing four additional items: Vasi, candelabri, urne ..., Pianta di Roma ..., Colonna Traiana ..., and Schola Italica picturae ....
  • Based on dating of the final additions to the catalogue, Cordaro and Campbell/Ceen suggest the imprint date.
  • Ex copy: state XXIV. There are a total of 31 known states, per A. Robison (2009).
Credit line:
  • Rare Books, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
View in catalog:
Identifier:
  • ark:/88435/xp68kr69r
Available online: