View of the Theatre of Marcellus, incorpating the Palazzo Orsini and with a distant view of the Dome of Santa Maria in Campitelli 1757

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this print of the Theatre of Marcellus, incorporating the Palazzo Orsini, using etching. Piranesi lived in Rome during a time when the city's identity was deeply intertwined with its ancient past, a past he vividly brings to life in his work. Piranesi wasn’t just documenting architecture, he was actively interpreting and reimagining Rome's relationship to time and history. He was particularly fascinated by the layered nature of Rome, where ancient ruins were often repurposed or incorporated into newer structures. He shows how the ruins become integrated into the daily lives of ordinary people. The juxtaposition of the grand, crumbling architecture with the figures of everyday people invites us to consider how different social classes and histories occupy the same space. As you consider this image, what do you feel as you observe this intersection of past and present, grandeur and decay? How does it challenge or affirm your own understanding of history and place?