Piranesi plate dedicated to Byres

Piranesi De Romanorum magnificentia et architectura

The leading engraver of Rome was Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778). Between 1748 and 1774, he produced quantities of magnificent etchings of Roman antiquities and monuments, which were immensely popular with 'grand tourists'. He was associated both with James Byres and with the Scottish Architect Robert Adam. Throughout his Roman career, Byres promoted Piranesi's prints of monuments and antiquities, and they were associated together in more than one excavation of an ancient site. His late works include plates of excavated antiquities many of which are dedicated to eminent virtuosi and travellers, such as this example from his late sequence of vases, urns and candelabra dedicated to Byres in recognition of their friendship and business association.