View of the two Churches the one called the Madonna of Loreto, the other the name of Mary at the Trajan column 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this print of the Madonna of Loreto and the Church of Mary at the Trajan Column. Piranesi made such views for the consumption of Grand Tourists, and for the edification of local Romans. Piranesi’s Rome is a city of imposing monuments and bustling activity, as the artist masterfully captures the architectural grandeur of Rome and the daily life that unfolds around these landmarks. But the picturesque views he produced also served a cultural function, reminding viewers of the city’s historical significance and its role as a center of artistic and religious power. What are we to make of the fact that this column, built to celebrate the military might of the Roman empire, is now adorned with a Christian Saint? Prints like this were purchased as mementos, a reminder of the glory of Rome, both ancient and modern, to be taken home and displayed in parlors across Europe. More than just souvenirs, these images shaped the identity of Rome as a city of layered history.