Plan and sections of the Hypogeum of the Scipios 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this print of the Plan and Sections of the Hypogeum of the Scipios using etching. It shows the tomb of the Scipio family, a powerful lineage in the Roman Republic. Piranesi’s image offers not just a depiction, but also an interpretation. Piranesi was working in 18th-century Italy, where interest in classical antiquity was surging. Excavations of sites like Pompeii fueled a fascination with Rome's past, which became a point of national pride, and a marketing opportunity. Piranesi capitalised on this, producing detailed and dramatic views of Roman ruins and monuments. This print speaks to the emerging discipline of archaeology, but also the art market. Piranesi's detailed depictions appealed to wealthy collectors, mostly tourists eager to acquire souvenirs of their Grand Tour. Understanding this image requires historical awareness. We should ask, who was this image for? What did it mean to 18th-century viewers? The answers lie in the intersection of art, commerce, and the burgeoning field of archaeology.