CASSAS Louis-François (after) (Azay-le-Ferron (Indre) 1756 Versailles 1827) - [View of an ancient quarry called Grotta della Favella, commonly known as Denis' Ear, in Syracuse]. c.1800. Watercolor over engraved line. Ref: Catalogue des Vues de monuments antiques et modernes, et de sites célèbres du Globe, exécutées avec leurs accessoires, à l'huile, à la gouache, et à l'aquarelle, et publiées à Paris, par les Piranesi, n°56. Printed and published by the Piranesi Brothers in Paris. One of the eight Sicilian landscapes painted by Cassas. After the overthrow in 1798 of the Roman Republic instituted by the French, the brothers Francesco and Pietro Piranesi took refuge in Paris. Heirs to the collection created by their father, Giacomo-Baptisto Piranesi, these archaeologists and draughtsmen opened a shop in 1803 on the Place du Tribunat (now the Place du Palais Royal) where they sold engravings of the most remarkable monuments and sites in the world. Painter of typical scenes, landscapes, watercolourist, engraver, his masters were Vien, Lagrenée le jeune, Leprince. Fervent traveller of the XVIIIth century, he made many drawings of Egypt, Greece, Sicily and Rome. Louis-François Cassas is considered as one of the first orientalists. 65,5 x 48 cm. Condition C (cut inside the subject at the top, formerly laminated, stains, foxing, a tear reaching the subject on the left, accidents...)