GIOVANNI PIRANESI - The Gothic Arch

THE ARTWORK

"The Gothic Arch" is an etching by the Italian artist and architect Giovanni Battista Piranesi. It is part of his famous series of prints, "Carceri d'Invenzione (Imaginary Prisons)", published in 1750

The series doesn't depict real prisons but rather uses fantastical architectural elements to create nightmarish scenes of confinement. "The Drawbridge" exemplifies this approach. The scene is dominated by colossal, forbidding stone structures with numerous arches, stairs, and ramparts. These elements seem to crush the dwarfed figures who wander through the labyrinthine complex.

The use of dramatic light and shadow further heightens the sense of unease. Light streams through openings in the architecture, casting long shadows and creating a stark contrast between illuminated areas and deep darkness.

THE ARTIST

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) was an Italian artist and architect known for his influential etchings and engravings depicting grandiose architectural fantasies and ancient Roman ruins. Born in Venice, Piranesi studied architecture in Rome, where he developed a fascination with the city's ancient structures.

Piranesi's etchings, such as the "Carceri d'Invenzione (Imaginary Prisons)" series and the "Vedute di Roma (Views of Rome)", are renowned for their intricate detail, dramatic perspectives, and imaginative compositions. These works often portrayed ancient Roman monuments with a sense of sublime grandeur, emphasizing their scale and monumentality.

Beyond his artistic endeavors, Piranesi was also a skilled architect and archaeologist, contributing to the study and preservation of Rome's ancient heritage. His prints had a significant impact on the European imagination, influencing the development of Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit