Vedute di Roma 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi produced this print, titled *Vedute di Roma*, as part of a series of views of Rome. It reflects a growing fascination with classical antiquity in the 18th century. Piranesi renders a vista of decaying Roman ruins. The image creates meaning through the play of light and shadow on the crumbling stone, while the figures in the foreground give scale to the scene and emphasize the grandeur and desolation of the ruins. Made in Italy, the image illustrates the power of the past and the transience of human achievement. The Catholic church and other institutions capitalized on these images, offering them as souvenirs to Grand Tourists to promote a specific vision of Rome's cultural legacy. Piranesi's prints offered views of Rome that shaped the understanding of the classical world for a wide audience. The image's power resides in its ability to evoke nostalgia and wonder, prompting viewers to reflect on the passage of time and the rise and fall of civilizations. To fully appreciate Piranesi's work, we rely on historical research, studying the Grand Tour, and the rediscovery of classical sites. The meaning of art lies within the social and institutional contexts of its creation and reception.