Forum of Augustus 

This etching by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a master of architectural and archaeological prints, depicts the ruins of the Forum of Augustus in Rome. This 18th-century print exemplifies Piranesi's signature style of grand, detailed architectural ruins, evoking a sense of grandeur and decay. Piranesi's meticulous rendering of the Forum's once-mighty arches and columns, now overgrown with vegetation, draws viewers into the haunting beauty of ancient Rome's ruins. The etching showcases Piranesi's skill in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, highlighting the passage of time and the fragility of human structures.