Spaccato della bottega ad uso di caffè detta degl'Inglesi situata in piazza di Spagna..., from Diverse Maniere d'adornare i cammini
Medium
architecture
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Gilbert
Accession Number
1967-85-24-53
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giovanni Battista Piranesi, the visionary Italian etcher (1720–1778), the bustling elegance of 18th-century Rome in this1769 print from his series *Diverse Maniere'adornare i cam* (Various Ways ofnamenting Chimneypieces). Titled *Spaccato della bot ad uso di caffè detta degl'Ingi situata in piazza Spagna*—a cutaway view of "English" coffee shop in the famed Piazza di Spagna—this architectural etching reveals the intricate interior of a popular gathering spot near the Spanish Steps. Piranesi's masterful technique showcases layered perspectives, dramatic lighting, and ornate details, blending re...