Piranesi

A unique set of the etchings of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) was given to the library by William Doniger and Mrs. Imogene Dimock in memory of Katherine Dimock Doniger. The 1,180 etchings, printed in Paris by Firmin-Didot during 1835-39, comprise the set formerly in the personal library of Pope Gregory XVI. This set was bequeathed by the Pope to his private secretary, Gaetano Moroni, a distinguished scholar. It passed into the market some time between 1878 and 1890 (probably at Moroni's death in 1883), and it appears to have come to the United States before the turn of the century. The etchings are printed on brilliant white wove paper, bound in 21 volumes in full red morocco with gilt stamping, and housed in a mahogany case.