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The Smoking Fire

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an architectural fantasy scene. The drawing includes enormous stone structures, bridges, and staircases within an imaginary architectural space. The arches and vaulted ceilings, light and shadows through cross-hatching techniques, stone walkways and ramps, architectural details such as railings, columns, and openings, and a monochromatic palette with contrasts of light and dark are all featured.

Artwork Details

Date
published 1749/1750
Medium
etching, engraving, sulphur tint or open bite, burnishing
Dimensions
3549 × 4755 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original