Piranesi Vases and Urns are classic Heritage Editions artwork.

From 1745 Giovanni Battista Piranesi restored and sold Roman antiquities at his workshop on the Corso in Rome. He also created his own classical-style structures and created etchings of them for publication.

Having had the benefit of the finest teachers, and classical architectural training, his ability as an artisan and etcher, and his dedication to the recording and restoring of Roman antiquities, led to his being elected honorary a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London in 1757.

Piranesi’s love of classical structures was reflected in his imaginative restoration of the antiquities he found. He used elements from antique Roman carvings on his stonework commissions for his patrons and collectors. Piranesi was also commissioned to do restoration work at the Vatican. In 1766 Pope Clement XIII recognized the quality of Piranesi's work when he awarded him the Order of the Spur... after which Giovanni Battista Piranesi usually signed his work Cavalier Piranesi.

Piranesi was a graphic artist of technical brilliance and great expressive range. He gained recognition for his superb etchings, in which he emulated the method of intaglio engraving when he drew a series of even parallel lines similar to those produced manually with a burin in engraving. Piranesi's style of etching gave him the freedom of drawing as his needle pierced the resin (wax) ground over the copperplate. An acid-wash etched through the carved lines, and provided great flexibility in creating irregular or varied lines and strongly defined tonal contrasts.

These illustrations are Heritage Editions Urns - prints of the stone masonry by Piranesi. At right is a Heritage Editions reproduction of an Antique Vase and Cinerary Urn Plinth, printed from an etching entitled In Inghilterra presso il Signor Dalton Cavaliere Inglese  (Presented in England to English gentleman by the name of Dalton) - by the first great artist of Romanticism, Giovanni Battista Piranesi for 'Antique Ornaments'  (Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi y Sarcofagi, Tripodi, Lucerne ed Ornamenti Antichi), published in Rome circa 1773-1778.

Giambattista Piranesi is perhaps most famous today for his superb prints of Vases - usually referred to as Urns.  Original 18th century etchings of these are available from Antique Print Club. Not always available - or affordable - Heritage Editions reproduction prints are wonderful substitutes. They are inexpensive and suit even contemporary décor.

Botanical illustrations. Australian.. or bright and cheerful.

Botanical illustration is universally appreciated – by all cultures and by all ages. Over the years as more people move to the cities our pace of life or place of residence no longer allows us to watch a bird, butterfly or beetle, or to observe a beautiful bloom as it grows. The wonders of nature are around us every day but unless you have your own garden it is usually only those who plan trips to botanic gardens or the countryside who are able to enjoy them.

On the other hand, antique prints of nature can be studied - without any knowledge of their technical, scientific, or historic value. If we are not interested in the rarity of antique prints, the way they were made, and even the precious hand-made paper of early prints, we can still appreciate their beauty, in the inexpensive reproduction prints that have been made from them to make them more readily available.

The most popular of all Australian botany prints are undoubtedly the Banksias – named after the great English botanist Sir Joseph Banks who funded much of the first voyage of Captain Cook, and accompanied this important voyage when Cook discovered the east coast of Australia in 1770. While their ship Endeavour was laid up for repairs near Cooktown, after being damaged on the Barrier Reef, Banks and the other scientists on the voyage travelled around the countryside observing and recording the terrain and the fauna and flora. It is no wonder that original hand-coloured copperplate engravings of early natural history studies are so precious; but less rare, less expensive, and equally decorative, are the Heritage Editions and Decorator Art prints of Australian flowers. There are many to choose from..

Perhaps three or four small prints of an Iris or Lily have greater appeal? They can even be framed together in one frame for a grand focal point. There are 10 of these Heritage Editions elegant botanical studies by Curtis to choose from… or else, around a group of 5 large prints from Basil Besler’s 17^th century studies of flowers that are beautifully displayed with their bulbs and roots for added character, and with their names in flourishing script.

For colour and drama, choose from the 17^th and 18^th century illustrations for plant catalogues. With several images to a page they produce an entirely different effect – particularly when hung together on a wall: 6 brightly-coloured vertical prints of plants with bulbs by Johann De Bry, and four elegant horizontal groups of flowers by Filippo Arena are prints from some of the finest botanical engravings ever done.

For an entirely different effect and particularly suited to kitchens or family rooms, 4 illustrations by Volckamer show brightly-coloured citrus fruit (some cut to show the inside), with their names on ribbons, floating above the European estates where they were grown in the eighteenth century. 

A group of botanical studies can be a centrepiece in any room or even above a bed. One large Besler flower study each side of a bed or each side of a piece of furniture against a wall in any room look really stylish. A single small print or even a pair can add charm to a kitchen, bathroom, laundry, or even the smallest room in the house. Bring the beauty of nature inside all year round – either with bright colour or elegant subtlety.

U/V blocking glass is now available to prevent fading and damage of all your artwork. Conservation framing is worth the extra cost for long-term enjoyment. Your artwork can improve the atmosphere of any room. If you need help please get in touch. We’d be happy to help you.