The Roman antiquities, t. 3, Plate XLI. Registration of the Mausoleum of Caius Cestius. 

This copperplate engraving by Giovanni Battista Piranesi captures the Mausoleum of Caius Cestius in Rome. Piranesi masterfully employs the technique of etching to render the stone blocks of the mausoleum with precision and depth. The careful hatching and cross-hatching create a tactile sense of the stone's texture, its weight and the effects of time upon its surface. You can see the labor involved, not just in the original construction, but in Piranesi's redrawing of it in the 18th century. The engraved Latin inscriptions on the stone, commemorating Caius Cestius, adds a layer of historical depth to the image, inviting viewers to contemplate the passage of time and the enduring legacy of ancient Rome. By focusing on the materiality of the ancient structure, Piranesi elevated what might have been simple documentation to a work of art. This challenges the hierarchy between high art and craft, reminding us that careful observation and skillful rendering can transform the mundane into something truly extraordinary.