The Roman antiquities, t. 4, Plate VI. Construction details of the Mausoleum of Hadrian and d`Elio Bridge St. Angelo and their foundations. 

This print, made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 18th-century Italy, shows the construction details of the Mausoleum of Hadrian and the Elio Bridge, now known as the Castel Sant’Angelo and Ponte Sant’Angelo in Rome. Piranesi was known for his detailed and dramatic etchings of Roman architecture. Trained as an architect and draughtsman, he used his art to explore the grandeur and engineering of ancient Roman structures. What sets Piranesi apart is his ability to combine meticulous documentation with a flair for the theatrical, emphasizing the scale and drama of these ancient monuments. Piranesi's work reflects the growing interest in classical antiquity during the Enlightenment. But more than just documentation, his prints influenced contemporary architectural design and contributed to the neoclassical movement. To fully appreciate Piranesi’s contribution, one needs to delve into archives of architectural drawings, historical maps, and archaeological reports. Piranesi's prints remind us that our understanding of the past is always mediated through the lenses of the present.