The artwork titled “The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXIV” by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, created in 1756 in Italy, is an etching that belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement and falls within the genre of capriccio. It is a part of Piranesi’s series “Le antichità Romane”.
The artwork portrays an imaginative yet structured composition reflecting ancient Roman architecture and ruins, rendered with intricate detailing which is characteristic of Piranesi’s style. The scene is dominated by imposing arches and crumbling structures, interspersed with lush foliage that contrasts sharply with the decaying stone. The etching brings forth the grandeur and historical depth of Roman antiquities, blending realistic depictions with artistic liberties, characteristic of the capriccio genre.
