Plan of the first and second floor of that museum 

Curator: It is impossible to discuss Piranesi without placing him in the context of 18th-century Rome, a city undergoing a revival of interest in its classical past. Editor: Here we have “Plan of the first and second floor of that museum,” a print by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. At first glance, it’s a stark architectural diagram, quite minimalist. What is your reading of this piece, especially knowing Piranesi? Curator: Precisely. Piranesi wasn’t just documenting architecture; he was participating in the Grand Tour, and profiting off of it. This print speaks to the growing museum culture of the 18th century. The "museum" highlights the tension between scientific record and object of fascination. Editor: Object of fascination? Curator: Yes. These plans, though seemingly objective, are loaded with the exoticism of freshly excavated Roman sites. They cater to the desire for both knowledge and spectacle of tourists seeking to discover lost ancient Roman painting in Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. To him, Rome itself became a sort of public museum, but the museum structure then reframed Rome. Isn't that strange? Editor: That’s fascinating – the city becoming a museum! So the scientific aesthetic clashes with the underlying commercial goals? Curator: Absolutely! Consider how prints like these circulated, forming and influencing European notions of antiquity. These weren't just neutral records; they shaped the perception and interpretation of Roman history, contributing to a cultural narrative of the past as spectacle. The act of printing transformed how the sites themselves were presented. Editor: That reframing makes Piranesi's work feel much more dynamic now. I had initially dismissed it as just a map. Curator: Exactly! Thinking about his work in relation to institutions and popular culture gives a more vibrant picture of his goals. This wasn’t detached archaeology, but rather politically charged art! Editor: I appreciate learning how the societal context influences an artwork's perception and purpose, especially pieces like this print!