The bridge at Rimini built by the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius 1748

This print of the bridge at Rimini was made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in Italy in the mid-18th century. Piranesi was known for his etchings of Roman architecture, both real and imagined, and this piece is exemplary of his vision. In his time, wealthy Europeans went on the 'Grand Tour', a cultural pilgrimage to the great sites of antiquity. Prints like this one served as souvenirs for those tourists. Piranesi's detailed depictions of ancient structures evoked a sense of awe and connected the viewer to the glory of the Roman Empire. They spoke to a broader interest in classical antiquity that was tied to the social and political ideals of the Enlightenment. However, the images are not simply accurate records. Piranesi often exaggerated the scale and grandeur of the ruins, romanticizing the past. He was also critical of contemporary architectural styles, which he considered inferior to those of the Romans. To understand Piranesi’s work better, we can look at period guidebooks, architectural treatises, and the history of archaeology to unpack how the art market shaped views of the ancient world.