Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2017.

Imaginary Prisons (Carceri d'Invenzione)

Artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778)

Date1761

MediumEtching on laid paper

DimensionsOverall, Plate: 21 3/8 × 16 1/4 in. (54.3 × 41.3 cm)
Overall, Support: 30 1/8 × 24 13/16 in. (76.5 × 63 cm)

ClassificationsEuropean art

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2017.3.1

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Not on view

DescriptionThese sixteen framed prints are the complete set of Piranesi’s renowned Carceri d’Invenzione series. They are engravings on laid paper, each made of two sheets joined horizontally at the center.
Label TextGiovanni Battista Piranesi Italian, 1720−1778 Title Page, from the series Imaginary Prisons (Carceri d'Invenzione), 1761 Etching on laid paper Piranesi changed the name of this series from Capric(ci) di Carceri (Fictional Prisons) to Carcere d’Invenzione (Imaginary Prisons, or Prisons of the Imagination) in the second edition of 1761, and published them himself rather than using a professional publisher as he had the first time. The first edition of c. 1750 was issued three times, a sign of its great popularity. Museum purchase 2017.3.1