Fantasy based on the porch of the Pantheon 1748 - 1752

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this drawing, Fantasy based on the porch of the Pantheon, using red and black chalk. Piranesi was an Italian artist known for his etchings of Roman architecture. In this sketch, the architectural forms are not just a backdrop, but the main subject. It reflects the 18th-century fascination with classical antiquity that fueled the Grand Tour, a rite of passage for upper-class Europeans. Piranesi's images catered to this market, offering romanticized views of Rome. However, his architectural fantasies also critique the institutions of art and power. By exaggerating the scale and complexity of these structures, Piranesi questions the stability of established authority. The perspective is vertiginous, overwhelming the viewer. Art historians like myself delve into period documents, travelogues, and architectural treatises to understand these visual arguments. Piranesi’s work invites reflection on how social and cultural forces shape the way we see and interpret art.