Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Collection of the engraved works of Giambattista and Francesco Piranesi as artists and publishers, 1761-1793.
90-B18303

Piranesi's title page provides a visual summary of the contents and a view of how history is itself constructed from ruins, the fragmentary remains of times past. His monumental books and prints present the ancient architecture of Rome and its environs as the foundation for western culture. With parallel contributions to the polemics of art and the design of great illustrated books, the architect and graphic artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi played a central role in the creation of these key monuments of art literature. Because it is especially complete and well produced, this set is thought to be a gift to Bonde of Gustavus III or IV, the former a patron of Francesco Piranesi, who assembled the set circa 1793.

Paul Gauguin
Noa Noa, draft manuscript, 1893
850041

The first full draft of Noa Noa, written by the French artist during his stay in Tahiti, recounts details of life on the South Sea island. The account is important because the Tahitian people, especially women, and the island's landscapes became important subjects for Gauguin's art. The manuscript was edited in this initial draft by Charles Morice for publication in La Revue Blanche (1897-1901).