Arch of Septimius Severus 1748

This etching, "Arch of Septimius Severus", is a masterful work by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi, created in 1748. The artwork depicts the Roman arch in its grandeur, using a dramatic chiaroscuro effect to highlight its architectural details. Piranesi's meticulous attention to detail and masterful use of perspective transport the viewer to the ancient city of Rome, making this a striking example of 18th-century Romanticism and the burgeoning fascination with classical ruins. Piranesi's series of etchings celebrating Roman ruins were a critical part of the Neoclassical movement, which ushered in a new era of architectural design.