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The image shows a sketch of a large ornate urn or vase with sculptural figures around its rim. The color palette is primarily brown and black, with ink and wash techniques used for shading. The urn is centered in the composition, with the base at the bottom third and the figures encircling the upper rim. The background is plain, highlighting the detailed sketching of the urn and figures.
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The image shows a sketch of a large ornate urn or vase with sculptural figures around its rim. The color palette is primarily brown and black, with ink and wash techniques used for shading. The urn is centered in the composition, with the base at the bottom third and the figures encircling the upper rim. The background is plain, highlighting the detailed sketching of the urn and figures.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Fantastic Vase

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Date
1746/1747
Medium
pen and brownish black ink with gray wash over black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 23.8 × 14.2 cm (9 3/8 × 5 9/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1986.63.1
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1726 to 1750
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Venetian
  • detail and ornament
  • architecture
Provenance

(P&D Colnaghi & Co., London); acquired 1986 by NGA.

Inscription

lower right verso in black chalk: Guardi

Watermarks

single circle containing a profile of a bird on a triple mountain (similar but not close enough to Heawood 161-168)

NGA object ID 69368. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.