Chest of drawers with patterns of diamonds, on a clock and two decorative vases 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of a commode, clock, and vases sometime in the 1760s in Italy. Piranesi was celebrated for his etchings of Roman architecture and ruins. However, he was also interested in the decorative arts, and this print exemplifies the burgeoning Neoclassical style. The print reveals a fusion of function and display that speaks to the social rituals of the wealthy in 18th-century Europe. Note the way the objects combine practicality with status. The commode for storage, the clock for punctuality, and the vases as decorative elements, each contributes to an environment of refined living. Piranesi’s skill in rendering texture and form elevates these everyday objects. By examining auction catalogs, inventories of aristocratic collections, and pattern books of the period, we can more fully understand the social and institutional contexts in which Piranesi operated. His work invites us to reflect on the enduring appeal of classical forms and the social forces that shape our aesthetic preferences.