GiovanBattista Piranesi (Mogliano Veneto 1720 - Rome 1778) "The Column with the chains" (Prisons of invention n ° XVI) Original etching signed on the bottom right "Piranesi F", from the series "Prisons of invention by G.Battista Piranesi Venetian Architect ”of which it is the n ° XVI of the second edition. Beautiful copy in the sixth and final state, with the number 364 engraved on the left of the capital of the central column, undoubtedly coming from a circulation of Firmin Didot made in Paris around 1830, as also evidenced by the watermark "PM" that can be glimpsed at center of the high edge in transparency with grazing light and which corresponds to that illustrated by Robison at number 94, typical of French paper production of the first decades of the 19th century. Nice specimen with the usual large margins beyond the imprint of the slab, typical of Didot's editions, with a tear in the past sheltered on the high edge that affects a part of the engraved area continuing vertically and with two branches and one on the right edge that does not affects the engraved part, overall in good general condition. Bibliography: Robison "Piranesi Early architectural Fantasies" Washington 1986 No. 42 and fil. 94. Measurements in mm: 408 x 548