The Roman antiquities, t. 3, Plate LII. View of the back side of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella. 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s etching, “The Roman antiquities, t. 3, Plate LII. View of the back side of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella,” exemplifies his meticulous renderings of ancient Roman architecture. Piranesi's dramatic use of light and shadow, as well as his detailed depiction of the crumbling walls and overgrown vegetation, creates a sense of the passage of time and the enduring power of Rome's past. This work was part of Piranesi's larger series "Antichita Romane" and is a stunning example of the 18th-century fascination with classical ruins.