An ancient bronze tripod in the royal collection at Portici, near Naples. Etching by G.B. Piranesi, 1778, after V. Brenna.
- Piranesi, Giovanni Battista, 1720-1778.
- Date:
- [1778]
- Reference:
- 3029766i
- Pictures
About this work
Description
The upper parts of the legs consist of gryphons, the middle parts are hunting horns carved with foliage, and the bottom parts are the clawed legs and feet of felines. Above is a circular table-top carved around the rim with bucrania and swags
Publication/Creation
[Rome] : [publisher not identified], [1778]
Physical description
1 print : etching ; image 34.9 x 37.4 cm
Lettering
Tripode antico di bronzo che si conserva à Portici nel Museo Reale di Sua Maestà il Rè delle due Sicilie. Al signor cavaliere Roberto Smyth Inglese amatore delle belle arti in atto di ossequio il cavaliere Gio. Batt.a Piranesi. D.D.D. Vincenzo Brenna disegnò. Cavalier Piranesi inc.
Creator/production credits
The dedicatee Sir Robert Smyth and his wife arrived in Rome in March 1778, having been in Naples earlier in the same month (Ingamells, loc. cit.)
References note
John Ingamells, A dictionary of British and Irish travellers in Italy, 1701-1800 compiled from the Brinsley Ford archive, New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1997, p. 875
Reference
Wellcome Collection 3029766i
Type/Technique
Languages
Where to find it
- Sheet cut to silhouette of image and with printed lettering trimmed off, the text replaced by handwritten lettering on the mount
Location Status Access Closed stores