Another view of the same tripod 

This print of a tripod was made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, who lived in Rome during the 18th century. Piranesi dedicated his career to documenting the city’s ancient monuments and archaeological artifacts, and he also speculated about their original appearance. In doing so, he was hoping to revive the artistic values of the ancient world in his present day. This print is dedicated to an English knight and connoisseur, Guglielmo Sandys. Piranesi's marketing towards a specific type of clientele exemplifies how the art market has been historically shaped by wealthy patrons, and that the role of institutions in art shapes its production and reception. Piranesi believed that ancient Roman architecture represented a pinnacle of human achievement, and he used his prints to promote this vision. His work also embodies the political values of the Enlightenment, such as a belief in progress, reason, and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Historians rely on a variety of resources, from archaeological reports to travelers’ accounts, to reconstruct these cultural and institutional contexts.