Vedute di Roma 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created "Vedute di Roma" as part of a series of etchings capturing Rome's architectural landscape. During the 18th century, Rome was a focal point for European travelers and artists; these prints catered to the Grand Tour. Piranesi was not just documenting buildings, he was also constructing a vision of Rome. He emphasized the sublime by magnifying the scale and drama of ruins, and interweaving nature with architecture to create visually arresting compositions. Look closely and you can see small figures scattered throughout the image which serve to highlight the grandeur of the Roman ruins. The play of light and shadow gives an emotional depth that invites reflection on the passage of time, and the impact of history on the present. Through "Vedute di Roma", Piranesi invites us to see Rome not just as a city, but as a stage upon which history, memory, and imagination converge.