The Roman antiquities, t. 2, Plate XVIII. Inscriptions and fragments of the burial chamber above. 1756

This is Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s “Inscriptions and fragments of the burial chamber above” from 1756. The etching offers a glimpse into the lives of those memorialized in these ancient Roman inscriptions. Piranesi, living in 18th century Rome, was deeply influenced by the city's rich history. His work straddles the line between documentation and imagination. These fragments are not just stones; they are remnants of personal stories, hinting at the identities, relationships, and social standings of the people they commemorate. Consider the names, the familial ties, and the very act of remembrance. These inscriptions invite us to consider the emotional weight of memory. The remnants of oil lamps and urns remind us of the rituals performed, the libations poured, and the grief experienced. Piranesi's work encourages us to reflect on our own relationships to the past, to loss, and to the ways we seek to preserve and honor those who came before us.