The artwork “The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXVI. Aqua Julia,” created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1756 in Italy, is an etching belonging to the Neoclassicism art movement. This cityscape is part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
The artwork depicts ruins of the Aqua Julia aqueduct with intricate details, characteristic of Piranesi’s work. Dominating the scene are remnants of archways and towering structures, emphasizing the grandeur of ancient Rome. The etching is highly detailed, capturing the textures and shadows of the ruined architecture, and evokes a sense of historical reverence and architectural splendor. An inset plan in the upper-left corner provides technical details of the structure, reflecting Piranesi’s background in both artistry and archaeology. The overall composition showcases the decay and history of Roman antiquities while highlighting the sophistication of their engineering.
