Fireplace with two large lire on the sides, and four rams` heads in the frieze 

This print of a fireplace with lyres and rams’ heads was made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, the renowned Venetian artist who died in Rome in 1778. Piranesi was known for his etchings of Roman architecture, and this print gives us a glimpse into the world of interior design in 18th-century Italy. Fireplaces were not just functional necessities; they were also important symbols of wealth and status. The intricate details, like the rams' heads and musical instruments, draw on classical antiquity, reflecting the era's fascination with the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. It's worth considering how such imagery might have served the interests of the elite. The fireplace as a kind of stage for displays of power, connecting present-day wealth with the grandeur of the past. To fully understand the meaning of this print, we can look at the history of interior design, the social history of 18th-century Rome, and the classical sources that inspired Piranesi.