The artwork, titled “The Roman antiquities, t. 3, Plate XIII. Plan of the Tomb of Plautius Family Via Tiburtina near Ponte Lugano,” is an etching by the artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This piece belongs to the Neoclassical art movement and falls under the genre of design. It forms part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
The artwork presents a detailed architectural drawing of the Tomb of the Plautius Family, located near Ponte Lugano along the Via Tiburtina. The primary focus is a circular plan of the tomb, meticulously labeled with various letters.
The main circular plan is enclosed within a perimeter wall (labeled D), and within the inner circle, specific sections are delineated. The central structure (labeled A) draws attention, likely indicating the core or most significant part of the tomb. Surrounding this central part, the plan extends into detailed sections and fragmentary components, with specific parts labeled (e.g., B, L, M, N, P, Q, R). These elements together convey the structural complexity of the ancient tomb.
To further enhance the viewer’s understanding, Piranesi includes both external aspects of the tomb and close-up sections of architectural details. This provides a comprehensive view of the tomb’s design and its historical architectural significance. Piranesi’s expertise in etching is evident through the precision and clarity with which the architectural intricacies are depicted.
