Great Piazza and Basilica of St. Peter's 1772

This print of St. Peter’s Piazza and Basilica was made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 18th century, using etching, a printmaking technique that was already quite old at the time. Etching involves biting lines into a metal plate, using acid. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched recesses. When pressed onto paper, a finely detailed image is created. It’s a painstaking process, demanding careful application of the acid. It's also an indirect process, requiring the artist to think in reverse: every mark is considered in terms of how it will appear when finally printed. Piranesi's choice of etching highlights his attention to detail, allowing him to capture the grandeur of St. Peter's Square, and also the social dynamics of the space. The texture of the print, with its intricate lines and tonal variations, lends a sense of depth and atmosphere to the scene. And the relative ease of multiplying the image allowed the scene to be disseminated widely. Consider the relationship between this print, and the vast architecture that it depicts. Both operate at a grand scale, and with a very precise intention.