Vedute sul Monte Quirinale del Palazzo dell' Eccellentissima Casa Barberini Possibly 1749

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Piranesi's "Vedute sul Monte Quirinale del Palazzo dell' Eccellentissima Casa Barberini," likely from 1749, an etching currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s fascinating how Piranesi captures such grandeur in a black and white print. What stands out to you? Curator: The masterful use of line is striking. Consider how Piranesi orchestrates the varying thicknesses and densities to evoke a sense of depth and volume. Observe the architectural details: the precise articulation of the façade, the play of light and shadow, the geometric structure of the buildings juxtaposed against the more organic textures of the landscaping. Editor: Yes, I see it. The geometric structure you pointed out is something I wouldn’t have initially considered without your insight, instead having considered how well it resembles photography despite not being photography at all! Curator: Precisely. And how does the artist articulate space? Are you noticing how Piranesi used diagonals and diminishing perspective lines within a symmetrical image to bring the foreground into an intimate relationship with what seems farther beyond? Do those affect how you consider the balance or the planes in this image? Editor: Absolutely. The diagonals do add a dynamic feel despite its symmetrical presence, and I see what you mean in terms of how planes work in unison. What would you say is the main subject, beyond architecture, or message behind the technique displayed in the piece? Curator: Perhaps not a specific subject or message but the potential for experiencing art in the absence of what some might deem requirements for a positive artistic experience, such as colour or paint. With that removed, and a new structure created, we still have an engaging artwork that persists across time. Editor: I now realize that stripping away such a common factor of visual art is also a form of building structure, which in this case is well proven as still artistically evocative today. Thanks for shedding light on Piranesi’s process with this artwork.