View of elevation above the vessel 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this etching of a vase, an image that allowed eighteenth-century viewers to imagine ancient grandeur. Piranesi was preoccupied with the display of antiquities, and his images spoke to an increasing interest in classical art. Italy, in this period, was a popular destination for wealthy Europeans looking to collect ancient artifacts. Piranesi was deeply involved in the business of selling antiquities, and his prints often served as advertisements for his wares. This print conveys a sense of neoclassical taste. We see the vase is ornamented with scenes of human figures and animal heads. It's an interesting commentary on the art market of the time and the ways in which visual imagery was used to promote and sell antiquities. To understand it better, research into the history of the Grand Tour and the art market in eighteenth-century Italy would be essential.