“The Roman antiquities, t. 2, Plate LI. Registration of `Soldiers Praetorian guards” is an etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a notable artist within the Neoclassicism movement. The artwork belongs to the design genre and is part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
The etching presents a detailed and meticulously crafted representation of inscriptions that honor Roman soldiers from the Praetorian Guard. The inscriptions are incised on three upright stone tablets, each displaying a formal epitaph in Latin. The tablets are sculpted with precise lines and are positioned against a stark background, underscoring the solemnity and historical significance of the inscriptions. The central tablet is the largest, flanked by two slightly smaller ones, all exhibiting dignified symmetry and classical architectural elements. The inscriptions provide details regarding the soldiers’ names, ranks, origins, and years of service, encapsulating the reverence with which these figures were commemorated. Piranesi’s adept use of etching techniques results in a work that celebrates the grandeur and legacy of Roman military tradition.
