Plate 11 from Carceri d'Invenzione

The Arch with the Shell Ornament, c. 1761

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The Martha T. Wallace Memorial Fund, 1930expand_more  P.11,335

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If the Prisons recall The Phantom of the Opera, it is due to the sublime wonder that overwhelmed Piranesi as he explored the enormous sewers of ancient Rome and to the wonder that later stage designers experienced when exploring and mining Piranesi’s works. They found inspiration in the emotional content of his architecture, its three-dimensional effect, and its complex lighting arrangements.

Details
Title
The Arch with the Shell Ornament
Artist Life
Italian, 1720–1778
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.11,335
Provenance
Erbach-Erbach family, Schloss Erbach Hofbibliothek, Erbach (Odenwald), Germany. F. H. Bresler Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Catalogue Raisonne
Hind prisons 11 ii/iii, F.34, Robison 37 vi/vii
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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Plate 11 from Carceri d'Invenzione