177 / 218
We have found approximately only 20 other complete sets of the
Grotteschi
at auction in
the past 30 years.
According to Robison, “The four large, horizontal plates Piranesi called the
Grotteschi
depict evocative mélanges of ancient bones and artifacts associating human, cultural and
architectural decay. Because of what is frequently seen as their Tiepoloesque character,
the
Grotteschi
have long been considered Piranesi’s mostVenetian prints, and scholars have
believed their production was closely connected with the artist’s trip home toVenice (late
1740s).” Robison 21-24.
[7,000/10,000]