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Piranesi’s Grande Cheminée, virtually recreated for John Wilton-Ely

Leander Touati, Anne-Marie LU (2016) In Studi sul Settecento Romano 32. p.335-358
Abstract
This text presents a virtual reconstruction of an exceptional chimneypiece, made during the very last days of Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s activity in the marble business. After its export to Sweden, the marble double frame (jambs and architraves) from which it was constituted were divided, and reused for two distinct chimneypieces, located in two different Royal residences. The origins of these pieces were forgotten, but through the series of documents presented in this article, could be rediscovered. The reconstruction was achieved in 3D. The data, acquired by means of photogrammetry, was used to build two models, which proved an exact fit when scaled and fitted together. The exceptional design of this object is underlined through a... (More)
This text presents a virtual reconstruction of an exceptional chimneypiece, made during the very last days of Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s activity in the marble business. After its export to Sweden, the marble double frame (jambs and architraves) from which it was constituted were divided, and reused for two distinct chimneypieces, located in two different Royal residences. The origins of these pieces were forgotten, but through the series of documents presented in this article, could be rediscovered. The reconstruction was achieved in 3D. The data, acquired by means of photogrammetry, was used to build two models, which proved an exact fit when scaled and fitted together. The exceptional design of this object is underlined through a series of comparisons with other creations, either Piranesian in origin, or in derivation. The argument also considers the diverging sources of influence, Piranesian or ancient, of the ‘Grande Cheminée’s’ constituent parts. In conclusion, our reconstruction is substantiated further by the identification of the original project drawing, which reveals the artist’s initial intention to use the constituent parts of the Cheminée for the creation of his own final memorial. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Predecessori, contemporanei e successori : Studi in onore di John Wilton-Ely - Studi in onore di John Wilton-Ely
series title
Studi sul Settecento Romano
editor
Nevola, Franceso
volume
32
pages
335 - 358
publisher
Quasar
ISSN
1124-3910
ISBN
978-88-7140-743-2
project
The Piranesi Collection of ancient Marbles in Stockholm
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
84d73f89-f5e6-471c-b2a3-cf7f02a9587f
date added to LUP
2017-07-02 15:55:09
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:28:27
@inbook{84d73f89-f5e6-471c-b2a3-cf7f02a9587f,
  abstract     = {{This text presents a virtual reconstruction of an exceptional chimneypiece, made during the very last days of Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s activity in the marble business. After its export to Sweden, the marble double frame (jambs and architraves) from which it was constituted were divided, and reused for two distinct chimneypieces, located in two different Royal residences. The origins of these pieces were forgotten, but through the series of documents presented in this article, could be rediscovered. The reconstruction was achieved in 3D. The data, acquired by means of photogrammetry, was used to build two models, which proved an exact fit when scaled and fitted together. The exceptional design of this object is underlined through a series of comparisons with other creations, either Piranesian in origin, or in derivation. The argument also considers the diverging sources of influence, Piranesian or ancient, of the ‘Grande Cheminée’s’ constituent parts. In conclusion, our reconstruction is substantiated further by the identification of the original project drawing, which reveals the artist’s initial intention to use the constituent parts of the Cheminée for the creation of his own final memorial.}},
  author       = {{Leander Touati, Anne-Marie}},
  booktitle    = {{Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Predecessori, contemporanei e successori : Studi in onore di John Wilton-Ely}},
  editor       = {{Nevola, Franceso}},
  isbn         = {{978-88-7140-743-2}},
  issn         = {{1124-3910}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{335--358}},
  publisher    = {{Quasar}},
  series       = {{Studi sul Settecento Romano}},
  title        = {{Piranesi’s Grande Cheminée, virtually recreated for John Wilton-Ely}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}