Chimneypiece: Affronted griffons on the lintel and candelabra on the jambs (Ch. accompagnée de son plan et décorée d'une frise de griffons), from Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi...(Different Ways of ornamenting chimneypieces and all other parts of houses)

Art Historical Context

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, the 18th-century Italian and architect, created this etching around 1769 as part of his influential series *Diverse Mani d'adornare imini ed ogni altra parte edifizi* ("Different Ways of Ornamenting Chimneyp and All Other Parts of"). Titled *Chimneypiece: Affront griffons on the lint and candelabra on jambs*, it showcases an ornate fireplace design featuring confronting griffons—a mythical creature blending lion and eagle—framing the lintel, flanked by elegant candelabra on the jambs. These fantastical elements evoke the grandeur of ancient Roman architecture, which Piranesi passionately documented and reimagined. Piranesi's etching technique shines here, with its intricate cross-hatching and precise lines capturing architectural depth and texture on a modest plate (9⅝ × 15¼ inches). As a master of vedute and ornamental prints, he blended neoclassical revival with imaginative flair, influencing architects and designers across Europe during the Enlightenment. Griffons, symbols of divine power and protection in classical lore, underscore the design's opulent, protective role over the hearth—heart of the home. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights Piranesi's role in popularizing elaborate interior ornamentation, bridging antiquity and modern taste for fireplaces that transformed everyday spaces into dramatic statements.

About the Artist

Giovanni Battista Piranesi · 1720–1778

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) was an Italian printmaker, architect, and antiquarian whose visionary etchings of Rome and imaginary prisons revolutionized architectural representation and profoundly influenced both Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Piranesi stands as one of the most important printmakers of the eighteenth century, fundamentally shaping European perceptions of ancient Rome an...