Titelprent met tempel en bouwfragmenten 1804

Francesco Piranesi's 1804 etching, "Titelprent met tempel en bouwfragmenten," portrays the ruins of Pompeii. Piranesi's work, reminiscent of his father's architectural fantasies, captures the grandeur and decay of the ancient city. The dramatic interplay of light and shadow emphasizes the crumbling structures, highlighting the power and impermanence of human endeavors. The inscription "POMPEIA" in the foreground further draws attention to the tragic fate of the Roman city. The artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to Piranesi's fascination with the lost world of Pompeii.