Tomb of the three brothers in Albano Curiatii 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching, Tomb of the three brothers in Albano Curiatii, during the 18th century, a period marked by the rise of the Grand Tour and an infatuation with classical antiquity. Piranesi, acting as both artist and archaeologist, situates this monument within a complex web of historical and cultural narratives. Here, he blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to contemplate the layers of history embedded in the Roman landscape. The print thus transcends mere architectural representation to become a meditation on time, memory, and the enduring legacy of the classical world. Piranesi’s Rome was inhabited by those from every class and gender. What emotions are evoked when you consider the lives lived, and lost, within these spaces? How do you think Piranesi would feel if he knew his etchings had been preserved for centuries to come?