Demonstration panel showing technique for raising travertine and marble blocks for the construction of the tomb of Cecilia Metella, Rome, from the series 'Le Antichità Romane' 1756

This etching, "Demonstration panel showing technique for raising travertine and marble blocks for the construction of the tomb of Cecilia Metella, Rome," from the series "Le Antichità Romane," was created by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1756. The artwork details the construction techniques used to build the tomb of Cecilia Metella, a prominent Roman structure. Piranesi's masterful use of line and detail brings to life the intricate machinery used to lift heavy stones, and the dedication of the workers involved in building this impressive monument. This print, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, demonstrates Piranesi's fascination with Roman architecture and his ability to depict technical details with artistic precision.