Lot 4
Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778). "Veduta Interna del Tempio della Tosse..." (Interior View of the Temple of the Cough
) from "Vedute di Roma" (Views of Rome) series, etching on laid paper, late 18th to early 19th century. Lower right in plate: "Piranesi F." Lower center in plate: "Veduta interna del Tempio della Tosse
" Lower left in plate: "In Roma Presso l'Autore a paoli e mezzo" An extraordinary, large vedute etching by Giovani Battista Piranesi from his Views of Rome series depicting Temple of the Cough, a circular building that dates to the reign of Emperor Constantine I in the early 4th century. The building's colorful name derives from a medieval story that claimed the building was intended to personify the cough and ward off illness. Size (plate mark): 24.625" L x 18.25" W (62.5 cm x 46.4 cm) Size (sight view): 25.125" L x 18.75" W (63.8 cm x 47.6 cm) Size (frame): 33.875" L x 27.5" W (86 cm x 69.8 cm)
While this claim has never been supported by concrete evidence, here are a few facts that we do know about The Temple of the Cough. It was built on the remains of a Roman Villa dating to the 1st century BCE. During the 10th century, the building became a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In addition, the building incorporated elements from the ancient Sanctuary of Hercules. Beyond this, The Temple of the Cough is an exemplar of Roman engineering and architecture. Crowned by a dome similar to that of the Pantheon with an oculus that measures 12 meters in diameter, the circular edifice features two levels with four semicircular niches and three rectangular ones decorated with remains of frescoes from the period when it was a church. Furthermore, the interior once graced visitors with a mosaic floor and marble sheathing.
Born in Venice, Giovanni Battista Piranesi later settled in Rome and was inspired to be an architect. Running into some obstacles he decided to become an architectural artist instead and became one of the most famous artists to depict architectural wonders. In his words, "When I saw in Rome how most of the remains of ancient buildings lay scattered through gardens and ploughed fields where they dwindled day by day
I resolved to preserve them by means of engravings. I have therefore drawn these ruins with all possible exquisiteness."
Provenance: private Rancho Mirage, California, USA collection, by inheritance in 2020; ex-Dr. TDR Berreth, California, USA, acquired before 1982
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#179147
- Condition: Slight foxing in areas, most evident in margins around platemark that are outside the image. Otherwise appears to be very good with strong imagery. Artwork is mounted under glass in custom mat and frame. Artwork was not examined outside the frame. Frame is intact. Some tears to gallery paper on verso that do not impact the artwork.
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