Beschreibung:

Follower of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778). The Inquisitorial Dungeon, Doge's Palace, after 1750, pen and brown ink, with black, grey and pink washes, on laid paper with a Fleur de Lys watermark (similar to Churchill 1711, dated after 1735), the old frame back board cut out to reveal inscription verso of drawing in pencil ‘Piranèse / Prison de l’Inquisition / en Venise’, 24 x 19.5 cm (9 3/8 x 17 5/8 ins) with an old (Christie’s ?) stencilled stock number on verso of backboard ‘805 G0’, mounted, the mount adhered to old frame backboard, 34 x 27.3 cm (13 3/8 x 10 3/4 ins) (Quantity: 1) Although the artist is clearly aware of Piranesi's series of etched Carceri or Prisons (1745-1750), the technique of brown pen and ink heightened with grey wash is perhaps closer to the graphic work of Canaletto (1697-1768), exemplified in the latter's presentation drawing, Piazza San Giacomo di Rialto, dated 1760-1769 (Courtauld Institute, London, acquisition number D.1978.PG.132).