Interior view of the Basilica of St. Peter's in the Vatican, near the Tribune, from Views of Rome 1773

This is an etching of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, near the Tribune, made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 18th century. Piranesi was a master of the etching process, and his technical skill is on full display here. Look closely, and you’ll see the extraordinary fineness of the lines, and the way they create a sense of vast space and intricate detail. Etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through the wax to expose the metal, and then immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink. It is a labour-intensive process that demands precision and control. The print conveys the grandeur of St. Peter’s, but consider also the labour that went into its construction – the quarrying of stone, the carving of ornamentation, the sheer physical effort required to build such a massive structure. Piranesi’s print, in its own way, is a testament to the power of human work, both artistic and manual. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and think about the processes that shape our world.