Various capitelli 

"Various capitelli" is an etching made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, an Italian artist renowned for his detailed engravings of Roman architecture, around the mid-18th century. Piranesi lived in a time when the allure of ancient Rome was being revived. His work reflects both an interest in and a critical engagement with the historical narratives of Roman grandeur. These detailed depictions of architectural fragments, with their elaborate ornamentation, speak volumes about power, taste, and the construction of cultural identity. We can consider how Piranesi, working in a society with rigid social hierarchies, was engaging with the legacy of Roman authority through these works. The artist uses a traditional medium to engage with these historical, social and political themes. Piranesi’s art invites us to ponder the narratives embedded within these stones. They echo the grandeur of a bygone era but also open a space to reflect on themes of power, legacy, and the complex ways societies construct their identities through art.