Vedute di Roma 

Editor: This etching is called *Vedute di Roma*, made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. It seems to depict a Roman ruin, perhaps an archway. It is incredibly detailed, almost overwhelmingly so, and somehow manages to feel both monumental and decaying at the same time. What do you make of it? Curator: It sings a song of layered history to me. Can’t you almost hear the whispers of the Roman Empire mixed with the scratching of Piranesi’s etching needle? He wasn't just documenting these ruins; he was reimagining them, injecting them with a drama that teeters on the edge of the fantastic. I think Piranesi captured the spirit of neoclassicism—its fascination with the grandeur of Rome—but also injected it with this wild, untamed energy. It's not a faithful representation; it's a performance! It's all about mood, atmosphere...tell me, what details draw your eye? Editor: I'm fascinated by the figures in the foreground, almost dwarfed by the immensity of the arch. It creates this real contrast of scales. Curator: Ah, those are Piranesi's little players on his stage! The arch becomes not just a structure but a testament to time. The people scurry around at its base, perhaps without realizing the weight of history bearing down. Have you ever thought of Rome as an abandoned film set for gods and emperors? I’m asking myself whether these folks notice all these gods hanging out right up there on top… What do you suppose Piranesi really wanted us to understand? Editor: That makes the artwork feel almost cinematic, it feels more intentional now, as though Piranesi really played around with his composition. Thanks to this tour, it becomes much easier to view! Curator: Absolutely. Piranesi reminds us that even ruins can tell the greatest stories!