Giovanni Battista Piranesi
1720-1778
Design for a Horizontal Panel with Trophies and Insignia of the Rezzonico Family, for Santa Maria del Priorato
ca. 1764-1766
8 1/2 x 14 15/16 inches (216 x 379 mm)
Pen and brown ink, over black chalk, on paper.
1966.11:54
Bequest of Junius S. Morgan and gift of Henry S. Morgan.
Notes
This is Piranesi's design for the central stele in the piazza outside the gates of Santa Maria del Priorato. The trophies signify the military prowess of the Knights of Malta, while the tower at center is taken from the coat of arms of Giambattista Rezzonico, Prior of the Knights and Piranesi's patron in the work.
Inscriptions/Markings
Inscribed within design, with measurements in palmi romani, in pen and brown ink; at lower center, "p 9 3/4"; at right edge, "p 5 5/12"; numbered at upper right, in graphite, "4".
Associated names
Morgan, Jane Norton, 1868-1925, former owner.
Morgan, Junius Spencer, 1892-1960, former owner.
Morgan, Henry S. (Henry Sturgis), 1900-1982, former owner.
Morgan, Junius Spencer, 1892-1960, former owner.
Morgan, Henry S. (Henry Sturgis), 1900-1982, former owner.
Bibliography
Denison, Cara, Myra Nan Rosenfeld, and Stephanie Wiles. Exploring Rome : Piranesi and His Contemporaries. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library; Montréal : Centre Canadien d'Architecture, 1993, no. 36, repr.
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Classification
Century Drawings
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