Piranesi was born in Mogliano Veneto, near Treviso, then part of the Republic of Venice. His brother Andrea introduced him to Latin and the ancient civilization, and later he studied as an architect under his uncle, Matteo Lucchesi, who was Magistrato delle Acque, a Venetian engineer who specialized in excavation.
One of the greatest printmakers of the eighteenth century, Piranesi always considered himself an architect. The son of a stonemason and master builder, he received practical training in structural and hydraulic engineering from a maternal uncle who was employed by the Venetian waterworks, while his brother, a Carthusian monk, fired the aspiring architect with enthusiasm for the history and achievements of the ancient Romans. Piranesi also received a thorough background in perspective construction and stage design. Although he had limited success in attracting architectural commissions, this diverse training served him well in the profession that would establish his fame.
he apprenticed himself briefly to Giuseppe Vasi, the foremost producer of the etched views of Rome that supplied pilgrims, scholars, artists, and tourists with a lasting souvenir of their visit. Quickly mastering the medium of etching, Piranesi found in it an outlet for all his interests, from designing fantastic complexes of buildings that could exist only in dreams (37.45.3.41), to reconstructing in painstaking detail the aqueduct system of the ancient Romans.
The knowledge of ancient building methods demonstrated by Piranesi's archaeological prints allowed him to make a name for himself as an antiquarian.
working in the studio of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. From this period date Piranesi's etchings called grotesques: rococo shapes interlaced with fragments of ancient ruins.
In his preface to the Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini of 1769, which includes both of these etched plates along with designs in the Etruscan, Greek, Roman, and even Rococo styles, Piranesi argued for the complete freedom of the architect or designer to draw on models from every time and place as an inspiration for his own inventions.
BRIEF:
Inspired by Ancient Etruscan, Greek, Roman, and Rococo style.
- Bachelor pad
Piranesi had no partner or kids, so he will most likely be living alone.
- Grand, spacious, with a high ceiling for the rooms and overall look
Most of his work represent large ruins/buildings.
-Include stairs and/or drawbridge to travel around the home
Reflected from his work, the Drawbridge - used as a way to get around the prison.
- Include a study room, and a library
His knowledge of various styles, engineering, ancient societies etc, may be all in the form of his books which would require a library for storage.
The study would be his own space to do all the types of work that he does - printmaking, etchings.
- Mural and furniture
Inspired, elaborate art on the walls around the home.
Same style/s for interior furnishing.
- Entrances
Large archways as entrances to different rooms/entrance to house
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Piranesi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Lucchesi
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pira/hd_pira.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/giovanni-battista-piranesi
- Bachelor pad
Piranesi had no partner or kids, so he will most likely be living alone.
- Grand, spacious, with a high ceiling for the rooms and overall look
Most of his work represent large ruins/buildings.
-Include stairs and/or drawbridge to travel around the home
Reflected from his work, the Drawbridge - used as a way to get around the prison.
- Include a study room, and a library
His knowledge of various styles, engineering, ancient societies etc, may be all in the form of his books which would require a library for storage.
The study would be his own space to do all the types of work that he does - printmaking, etchings.
- Mural and furniture
Inspired, elaborate art on the walls around the home.
Same style/s for interior furnishing.
- Entrances
Large archways as entrances to different rooms/entrance to house
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Piranesi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Lucchesi
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pira/hd_pira.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/giovanni-battista-piranesi
