Giovanni Battista Piranesi

The Giant Wheel (Carceri IX), (2nd State)

1749

448 x 315 mm.; 17 5/8 x 12 1/4 inches Watermark: Eagle, close to Briquet 207 (Rome 1573-76) Notes: Bos was born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch in southern Netherlands (in French, the city’s name is “Bois-le-Duc”), and was active in Rome for a number of years from circa 1549 onward. His works were influenced by Marcantonio Raimondi (near Bologna 1480 – died between 1527 and 1534: see our no. 11). The inspiration for this magnificent and extremely rare engraving was the famous so-called Farnese Hercules...

Engraving after Egidius Coninxloo (c. 1581 - 1619), executed by Nicolaes De Bruyn (Antwerp 1571 - 1652 Amsterdam) Unidentified watermark

The two plates in this set were created utilizing both engraving and etching techniques by William Hogarth in 1753, originally as illustrations of his book on aesthetics, entitled "Analysis of Beauty". Due to their popularity, these plates were later published separately. The publication line in the lower right reads: "Designed, Engraved, and Publish'd by Wm. Hogarth, March 5th 1753, according to Act of Parliament." Hogarth's original copper plates were refurbished where needed by James Heath and engravings were republished in London in 1822 by Braddock, Cradock & Joy. This was the last time Hogarth's copper plates were used for printing. Most were melted during World War I for the construction of bombs. These large folio sized "Analysis of Beauty" engravings are presented in antiqued gold-colored frames with double mats; the outer silk mats are light brown-colored and the inner mats are dark brown. Each frame measures 27.38" x 31.25" x 1.13". There is one tiny spot in the right margin of plate 1 and another in the lower margin; the latter could be from the printing process. The prints are otherwise in excellent condition. The "Analysis of Beauty" series is in the collection of many major museums, including: The British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Tate Museum, The Chicago Art Institute and The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The first engraving (Plate 1) depicts a courtyard of statues which is filled with some of the most famous works of classical sculpture. The most important sculptures are surrounded by less impressive works. The Medicean Venus (#13) is in the center with a statue of Julius Caesar (#19) to the right, elevated on a pulley with a short, overdressed Brutus stands over the falling Caesar. The Apollo Belvedere (#12) is next. A judge stands to the right with his foot on a cherub (#16). Another crying cherub holds a gallows and wipes his tears with the judge's robe. A sphinx (#21) and the drunken Silenus (#107) are below the Venus. Michaelangelo's torso (#54) and a statue of Antonius (#6) are seen in the foreground. The Farnese Hercules (#3) and a bust of another Hercules (#4) under two statuettes of Isis are also included in the scene. The key to these objects is included in the form of a serpentine line winding around a cone (#26), Hogarth's "Line of Beauty". For Hogarth the winding line is an essential element of beauty in art. Hogarth's theory of beauty is communicated in this plate. Plate 2 is thought to represent the Wanstead Assembly, with the Earl of Tynley and his household. It is an adaptation of a scene in the Happy Marriage series, which complements Hogarth's Marriage à la Mode...

"The Heidelberg Tun" is a 17th century engraving by an unknown artist. It depicts a famous huge ornamental wine cask that resided in the wine cellar of Heidelberg Castle. The cask shown here, built in 1664, is the second of four Heidelberg Tuns; the first was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War, between 1618 and 1648. This cask was built in 1664 when Karl Ludwig ordered Heidelberg cellar master...