A capital and a base (inc F Piranesi) 

Here we see Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s, "A capital and a base," an engraving that captures the grandeur of ancient Roman architecture. Piranesi was working in the 18th century, a time when Europe was rediscovering classical antiquity. Piranesi wasn't just documenting buildings, he was creating a mood, an experience. Look at the scale and detail, how Piranesi uses light and shadow. He's not only showing us the physical structure but is also conveying a sense of awe and the weight of history. "I need to produce great ideas," Piranesi once said, "and I believe that if I were commissioned to design a new universe, I would be mad enough to undertake it." Piranesi challenges the viewer to think about power, legacy, and the ways we construct our own narratives. The architecture becomes a stage for pondering human ambition and the traces we leave behind. He evokes the emotional and intellectual impact of the Roman Empire and its echoes in the present.