Veduta interna dell'Atrio del Portico di Ottavia (Internal View of the Atrium of the Portico of Octavia), in: 'Vedute di Roma' (Views of Rome) 1760

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching titled 'Internal View of the Atrium of the Portico of Octavia' as part of his 'Views of Rome' series. Piranesi lived in Rome during a time when the city's artistic and intellectual circles were captivated by its classical past. In this work, Piranesi masterfully contrasts the grandeur of ancient Roman architecture with the everyday lives of 18th-century inhabitants. The colossal ruins dwarf the figures, highlighting the transient nature of human existence against the backdrop of enduring history. We see ordinary people engaged in their daily activities amidst these ruins, which prompts us to think about how lives are shaped by the layers of history and the structures of power that surround them. Piranesi's detailed rendering emphasizes the emotional impact of the sublime, the awe-inspiring quality of the ruins, and the smallness of human endeavors. In doing so, Piranesi invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between past and present, and how it shapes our identities.