View of the pedestal of the Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and his wife Faustina in the Piazza di Monte Citorio 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of the pedestal of the Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and his wife Faustina in Rome in the mid-18th century. Piranesi’s image is not simply a record, it also makes a claim about the role of Roman antiquity in shaping the present. The etching captures the monument in a bustling public square. The very act of depicting it amidst the everyday life of 18th-century Rome infuses the ancient structure with new meaning. It is a reminder of Rome's layered history, where the grandeur of the past coexists with the realities of the present. This was a period when the city of Rome, under Papal patronage, saw itself as the inheritor of the Roman Empire. Piranesi's works often highlight Rome's historical depth as well as the institutions that celebrated the city's legacy. To truly appreciate Piranesi's art, we must consider the social and institutional contexts that shaped it. A deeper understanding can be achieved through further study in libraries, archives, and museums.