Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Piranesi
Self-portrait, 1779
Born(1720-10-04)4 October 1720
Died9 November 1778(1778-11-09) (aged 58)
EducationMatteo Lucchesi
Known forEtching
Notable workLe Carceri d'Invenzione and etchings of Rome
MovementNeoclassicism

Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (Italian pronunciation: [dʒoˈvanni batˈtista piraˈneːzi; -eːsi]; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his etchings of Rome and of fictitious and atmospheric "prisons" (Carceri d'invenzione). He was the father of Francesco Piranesi, Laura Piranesi and Pietro Piranesi.