Piranesi, Francesco (1758/9 Rom - 1810 Paris) Lot n° 6231

Fuoco artificiale detto la Girandola. Color etching printed in brown and red-brown, after Louis-Jean Desprez. 51.2 x 76.7 cm. About 1790. Not in Le Blanc, Wollin 3 II. Wz. double eagle with flower on the chest and secondary mark "Schrift". The composition shows a representation of the Girandola, a famous firework above the Castel Sant'Angelo. It was held twice a year at Easter and on 28 June, the eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, and during the coronation of a new pope. The fantastic spectacle was popular with both the Romans and visitors to the city and attracted huge crowds. It was first staged in 1471 and for centuries was considered the most spectacular fireworks of its kind in Europe. The author of the composition, Louis Jean Desprez, had a phenomenal sense of dramatic staging and represents the climax of the event, the impressive finale. Francesco Piranesi brilliantly transferred the original by Desprez into the medium of printmaking and created a colour etching that is a technical masterpiece. - Splendid, strong and harmonious impression with ca. 2.5 - 4 cm wide margins all around. The subtle combination of black and iron red, which merge into each other in delicate gradations, congenially conveys the grandiose impression of the nightly fireworks over the Castel Sant'Angelo. Isolated, barely noticeable, closed tears at right and lower margin, tiny box pleat from printing at lower margin, light centrefold, further minimal signs of age, otherwise in quite excellent condition. Rare.