Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2017.

The Tomb of Nero

Artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778)

Dateca. 1761-65

MediumEtching with engraving and drypoint

DimensionsOverall, Image: 21 1/4 × 29 in. (54 × 73.7 cm)
Overall, Mat: 24 1/8 × 32 in. (61.3 × 81.3 cm)

ClassificationsEuropean art

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by Barbara and Andrew Fine, Leah and Richard Waitzer, Pat and Doug Perry, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C., Virginia and John Hitch, Margaret Shepherd Ray, Sharon and Joseph Dilustro, Page Fitchett and Mrs. Thomas H. Willcox, Jr. in recognition of Jeff Harrison and his 33 years of service to the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Object number2016.3.3

On View

Not on view

DescriptionThe Tomb of Nero, III/VI, one of a set of four etchings by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, commonly known together as the Grotteschi or Capricci Grotteschi, (the Grotesques or the Grotesque Caprices).

The artist’s name and the address of his studio are included in the plates: Piranesi inventó, ed incise (Piranesi invented and incised) Ap.o Piranesi dirimpetto l’Accademia di Francia in Roma. (Ap[artment]) Piranesi across from the French Academy in Rome).

The watermark of the fleur-de-lis within a double circle surmounted by the letters CB helps to date the prints to a period between 1761 and the mid 1760s. This was the time of the second edition of the prints.

Label TextGiovanni Battista Piranesi Italian, 1720−1778 The Tomb of Nero, from the series Grotesques (Grotteschi) ca. 1761− 65 Etching with engraving and drypoint on laid paper Piranesi published the Tomb of Nero as part of a set of four Grotteschi (Grotesques), of invented cave landscapes including Roman ruins, in 1750, in the same album as the first Carceri (Prisons) appears, the Opera Varie (Various works). These showed the ruins of Rome in a romantic and evocative way, exaggerating the disorder and overgrown character of the imaginary sites. Museum purchase with funds provided by Barbara and Andrew Fine, Leah and Richard Waitzer, Pat and Doug Perry, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C., Virginia and John Hitch, Margaret Shepherd Ray, Sharon and Joseph Dilustro, Page Fitchett and Mrs. Thomas H. Willcox, Jr. in recognition of Jeff Harrison and his 33 years of service to the Chrysler Museum of Art. 2016.3.3