Tomb of Caecilia Metella, from Views of Rome
1762, published 1800–07 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper · Image: 44.7 × 62.7 cm (17 5/8 × 24 11/16 in.); Plate: 45.5 × 63.5 cm (17 15/16 × 25 in.); Sheet: 54 × 74.3 cm (21 5/16 × 29 5/16 in.)
Piranesi, Tomb of Caecilia Metella, from Views of Rome, 1762, published 1800–07. Etching on heavy ivory laid paper.
The Art Institute of Chicago · Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
How to look at a Piranesi
- Find the figures first. Then look at how big the architecture has become because of them.
- Follow the gradient on the largest plane. It never bands.
- Look at his skies: broken, directional lines, never flat hatching.
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1 study of this work
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