The Roman antiquities, t. 1, Plate XXX. Forum Nervae. 1756

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of the Forum of Nerva as part of a series on Roman antiquities. This print offers a glimpse into 18th-century Rome and the contemporary fascination with its classical past. Piranesi's Rome was a city of contradictions, caught between the grandeur of its ancient ruins and the realities of its present state. His prints, like this one, played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of Roman history, and served as a visual record of archaeological discoveries that were crucial to the period of the Grand Tour. By studying the architectural details, urban planning, and artistic styles depicted in prints like this one, historians piece together a more complete understanding of the society that produced and consumed them. These etchings and engravings influenced the rise of Neoclassicism, and can be found in museum collections around the world. These sources and others, such as letters and diaries, help contextualize the print and its complex relationship with both the past and present.