View of the Bridge and Castle St. Angel 

"View of the Bridge and Castle St. Angel" is an etching made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, an artist known for his dramatic depictions of architecture. Piranesi lived in a time of growing fascination with classical antiquity, where Rome stood as a potent symbol of history, power, and cultural identity. This view of the Castel Sant'Angelo is more than just a depiction of a famous Roman landmark; it’s an engagement with the city's layered history. Originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, it was later transformed into a papal fortress. Piranesi's Rome is a stage where history and contemporary life intersect, often emphasizing the grandeur of the past while hinting at the complexities of his present. His work reminds us that cities, like identities, are built upon layers of history, power, and memory. They're shaped by those who inhabit them, and those who depict them.