The artwork titled “The Roman antiquities, t. 2, Plate IX. Plan of the burial chambers of `Liberti, and Family L. Arrunzio” created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1756 in Italy, is an etching representative of the Neoclassicism art movement. This cityscape artwork is part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
This detailed etching depicts the intricate ruins of burial chambers belonging to the freedmen and the family of L. Arrunzio. The scene showcases the grandeur and decay of ancient Roman sepulchral architecture, with weathered walls, arches, and a variety of funerary monuments. The fine lines and meticulous detailing typical of Piranesi’s work highlight both the structural composition and the textures of the stone and masonry. The inclusion of human figures amidst the ruins adds a sense of scale and life, drawing attention to the historical significance and the reverence for the past.
