The artwork, titled “The Roman Antiquities, t. 1, Plate XL,” was created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1756. This Italian etching exemplifies the Neoclassicism art movement and falls within the design genre. It is part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
The artwork meticulously details the architectural plans and elevations of the ancient Roman baths, specifically those of Antoninus Caracalla. Displayed with precise lines and annotations, it captures the grandiosity and intricacy of Roman architecture. The top half of the artwork includes a detailed overhead floor plan, while the bottom half features an elevation view, providing a comprehensive conceptualization of the structure. The different shades utilized in the etching highlight extant parts of the structure in contrast to speculative or supplementary elements. The etching is not just an artistic representation but also bears the qualities of an architectural blueprint, underscoring the analytical and historical examination characteristic of Piranesi’s works.
