Bilder Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) – View of the Arch of Janus – Engraving (1748–1778)

Beskrivning

This engraving presents a detailed view of the quadrifrons triumphal arch located in the Forum Boarium in Rome, titled Veduta dell'Arco di Giano Quadrifonte. The composition illustrates the massive four-sided structure, highlighting its weathered marble surfaces, decorative niches, and the heavy encroaching vegetation atop its summit. To the left and right, contemporary eighteenth-century buildings are shown in close proximity to the ancient monument, providing a sense of its integration into the modern urban fabric of the city. Small figures and a horse-drawn carriage are depicted near the base of the arch, emphasizing its monumental scale and continued role as a functional landmark. This illustration was published as a technical plate for a series on Roman antiquities intended to document the surviving architectural grandeur of the classical era for scholars and travelers on the Grand Tour.

Giovanni Battista Piranesi was an influential Italian artist, architect, and archaeologist whose work became synonymous with the visual record of Rome's classical heritage. He is most renowned for his vast series of etchings, including the Vedute di Roma and the imaginative Carceri d'Invenzione, which showcased his mastery of perspective and dramatic use of light and shadow. Piranesi was a passionate advocate for the superiority of Roman architecture over Greek styles, and his detailed technical drawings provided essential documentation for the burgeoning field of neoclassical archaeology. His workshop in Rome became a major destination for travelers on the Grand Tour, and his dramatic, atmospheric style profoundly influenced the development of the Romantic movement and modern architectural imagination.

Artist or Maker: Giovanni Battista Piranesi .

Dimensions: Approximately 29 cm x 19 cm .

Medium: Engraving .

Date: 1748–1778

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.