In Olomouc, graphics by the Italian artist Piranesi will be exhibited

Olomouc - The exhibition "Genius Graphic of Italian Baroque" will showcase the graphics of the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi, which will begin on October 1 at the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc. Visitors will see Piranesi's famous Roman views as well as architectural fantasies from the album "Prisons," curator Helena Zápalková told reporters today. The exhibition will last at the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc until January 10.
    According to Zápalková, Piranesi is among the greatest figures of Italian art of the 18th century. "He was a man of many professions - architect, archaeologist, designer, but he achieved world fame primarily as a graphic artist," she stated. Piranesi spent his childhood and youth in Venice, where he received artistic training. "However, he settled in Rome, and his connection with the Eternal City proved to be not only fateful for him but also provided a fundamental contribution to world art - a cycle of large-format graphic views," Zápalková noted.
    Piranesi initially studied and sketched monuments thoroughly. Thanks to his masterfully mastered etching technique, he then published them as graphic prints. This gradually led to the creation of a considerable collection of views of Roman landmarks, including not only ancient buildings but also views of Baroque churches, palaces, squares, and famous fountains. "Many travelers and scholars came to Rome precisely because of his captivating graphics, and as a memento from their trip, they took Piranesi's albums with them," said the curator.
    All art history overviews in connection with Piranesi, according to Zápalková, also mention the graphic cycle titled "Imaginary Prisons," which captures the atmosphere of endless corridors and staircases of ancient prisons. "The mesmerizing expressiveness of this collection literally captivated giants of literature such as Victor Hugo, Charles Baudelaire, and Aldous Huxley. These graphics were also inspirational for surrealists. And I believe that visitors to our exhibition will also be fascinated by the mysterious world of Prisons," Zápalková believes.
    In addition to the renowned views and scenes from the "Carceri" cycle, graphic prints depicting ancient monuments will also be exhibited in Olomouc. "The exhibits from the collection of the National Gallery complement unique graphic albums from the property of the Olomouc Archdiocese, prints from the Moravian Provincial Library in Brno, the Museum of Art Olomouc, and private collections," said Michal Soukup, director of the Museum of Art Olomouc. The graphic prints will be supplemented by rare cork models of ancient buildings, which were loaned to Olomouc by the National Heritage Institute in Kroměříž from the state castle Rájec nad Svitavou.