Monday, November 14, 2016

Images of Obelisks and Roman Piazzi

Pietro Dovizelli
Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo
1859
photograph
Victoria & Albert Museum

The fact that there are more ancient Egyptian obelisks in Rome than in Egypt has been mentioned in this space before, and it will probably be mentioned again because it is such a resonant and telling fact. Though all share a common history as imperial plunder, there are no more than fragmentary reconstructions of their individual paths to the spots where they now stand.

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo
ca. 1760-78
etching
British Museum

Anonymous British artist
Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo
early 19th century
drawing
Tate Gallery, London

Mrs Jane St John
Obelisk in Piazza del Popolo
ca. 1856-59
albumen silver print
Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Piazza di Spagna
ca. 1760-78
etching
British Museum

Anonymous British artist
Piazza di Spagna with obelisk above Scalinata
19th century
drawing
Tate Gallery, London

Giovanni-Battista Piranesi
Piazza Navona with Bernini's fountain and obelisk
ca. 1746-48
etching
British Museum

Anonymous French artist
Piazza Navona with obelisk but without fountain
ca. 1647-52
drawing
British Museum

Giovanni Battista Falda
Piazza Navona with obelisk and  fountain
ca. 1691
etching
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Scalinata approaching Piazza del Campidoglio
ca. 1760-78
etching
British Museum

Jacques Louis David
Scalinata approaching Piazza del Campidoglio
18th century
drawing
Morgan Library, New York

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Obelisk at the Archbasilica of St John Lateran
ca. 1760-78
etching
British Museum

Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Obelisk in the Piazza della Rotunda
ca. 1760-78
etching
British Museum

Jean Barbault
Excavation of an Obelisk from the Campo Marzio
ca. 1749
etching
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York