Fireplace with a frieze of serpents and winged figures above the hips bucranes 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching of a fireplace with serpents, winged figures, and bucranes. Made in Italy, this design reflects the 18th-century obsession with antiquity. Piranesi was trained in Venice, a city renowned for its theatricality, perspective, and stage design. These interests are reflected in his work, which is full of dramatic contrasts and ornamentation. This piece shows how ancient forms became fashionable interior design for wealthy Europeans who wished to conjure the luxury and power of ancient Rome. A historian might explore the social context of Piranesi's work by researching the Grand Tour, the educational journey undertaken by young aristocrats to learn about classical culture. Auction catalogs and design books would also reveal how prints like this one fueled the popularity of neoclassical style, transforming domestic spaces into personal museums of ancient taste.