The Roman antiquities, t. 2, Plate XXIII. Remains of the great building burial added to the Mausoleum of Constance. 1756

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching, titled "The Roman antiquities, t. 2, Plate XXIII. Remains of the great building burial added to the Mausoleum of Constance," as part of his documentation of Roman antiquities. Piranesi lived in a time when the Enlightenment's fascination with classical antiquity fueled both archaeological discovery and artistic interpretation. Through the stark contrast of light and shadow, Piranesi doesn't just depict ancient ruins, he reimagines them. Note how the imposing architectural fragments evoke a sense of grandeur but also of loss. Piranesi’s Rome is not just a historical site; it's a stage upon which the drama of history, decline, and memory plays out. His work invites us to consider how historical narratives are constructed and whose perspectives are included or omitted. The etching reflects a deep emotional engagement with the past, an engagement shaped by his personal experiences and the cultural currents of his time.