The prisons (Le carceri)

The series of prints which is the subject of this essay was first given the rather formidable, and poorly spelled, Italian title "Invenzioni Capric di Carceri all Acqua Forte Datte in Luce da Giovani Buzard [somewhat later spelled correctly Bouchard] in Roma Mercant(e) al Corso" by their publisher, who was a Frenchman. This Dover edition, first published in 1973, reproduces in their entirety -- at 60 per cent of original size -- the first and second states of Invenzioni Capric di Carceri by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The first state, containing 14 etchings, was originally published in Rome, circa 1745. The second, containing 16 etchings, was originally issued in 1761. - Publisher.