“The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXXVIII. Plate of topography of Rome,” is an artwork created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1756 in Italy. The piece, part of the series “Le antichità Romane,” is crafted using the etching technique and falls within the Neoclassicism art movement. The artwork belongs to the design genre and provides a detailed topographic representation of Rome, illustrating the layout of ancient structures and aqueducts.
The artwork comprises various visual elements meticulously arranged to convey detailed information about Rome’s ancient topography. On the left side, a detailed inscription delineates the purpose of the map, indicating it as a demonstration of the courses of ancient aqueducts. The upper section of the artwork features an architectural drawing with detailed cross-sections, possibly of aqueducts, showcasing intricate structural plans and dimensions. The central part of the artwork displays a map depicting the river’s course and surrounding topography, with the layout and geographical features of Rome highlighted. In the bottom-left corner, there is a detailed explanation of the map, indicating significant landmarks and their corresponding symbols used in the artwork. The upper-right quadrant contains a large circular structure, enhancing the topographic detail of the map. The detailed etching employs fine lines and shading to convey depth, contours, and different textures, presenting an exhaustive and insightful view of ancient Rome’s topography.
