The artwork, titled “View of the Tomb of Piso Licinianus of the ancient Appian Way, beyond the waterworks tower half way to Albano,” is a cityscape created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This piece belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement and is part of the series “Vedute di Roma.”
The artwork depicts an intricate and dramatic view of ancient ruins along the Appian Way. The foreground is dominated by the imposing, time-worn structures, including the tomb of Piso Licinianus and the neighboring waterworks tower. The detailed etching captures the grandeur and decay of these monumental edifices. In the background, the scene is further enriched by the atmospheric rendering of the sky and the surrounding landscape, blending architectural splendor with the serenity of nature. The meticulous attention to detail and the play of light and shadow in the artwork evoke a sense of historical reverence and beauty, transforming the ruins into a picturesque representation of Rome’s timeless heritage. The figures of people in the scene are dwarfed by the towering ruins, emphasizing the monumental scale and enduring presence of the ancient architecture.
