Piranesi's aesthetic of monumentality is evident in his grand views of Rome and in his fantastic compositions of ancient artifacts. See a key to the objects depicted in this etching. Title Page for a Catalogue of Antiquities, 1778 Piranesi's magnificent vision of the monument includes the original bronze statue of Trajan, which had been replaced with a figure of Saint Peter in 1587. The print shows the shaft's spiral narrative frieze, which depicts Roman emperor Trajan's battles against the Dacians of southeastern Europe. Piranesi used six copper plates to produce a spectacular, nearly nine-foot-high etching of the Column of Trajan, one of Rome's most recognizable monuments. Piranesi's images were often so magnificent that tourists who had seen them before they visited Rome were sometimes left disappointed by the actual city.įeaturing examples of Piranesi's books and prints in the special collections of the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute, this exhibition presents an overview of his extraordinary range of activities: from penning polemics and recording archaeological data to sketching dramatic views, imagining prisons, and creating stylish advertisements for his wares. ![]() He published more than a thousand etchings depicting the 18th-century city and ancient Roman monuments. See a close-up of the top portion of the frieze on the column's shaft.Īrchitect, archaeologist, polemicist, and printmaker Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) was a lifelong champion of Rome. ![]() See a close-up of the statue of Trajan atop the column. ![]() View of the Principal Prospect of the Column of Trajan (detail), 1774
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