The artwork, titled “The Roman antiquities, t. 4, Plate IV. View of the Bridge and the Mausoleum, manufactured by Elio Emperor Adrian,” is an etching by the artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This piece belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement and falls under the design genre. It is part of the series “Le antichità Romane.”
In the artwork, there is a detailed architectural plan, showcasing the intricate and methodical design of ancient Roman structures. The upper section of the etching delineates a circular plan, possibly representing the Mausoleum’s interior structure with concentric sections labeled with letters. Below this, a detailed river plan named “IL TEVERE” (The Tiber River), highlights an ancient bridge’s foundation and architecture. The textual annotations at the bottom describe various elements and measurements of the depicted structures, illustrating Piranesi’s dedication to architectural accuracy and historical documentation.
