Demonstration panel showing technique for raising travertine and marble blocks for the construction of the tomb of Cecilia Metella, Rome, from "Le Antichità Romane"
Original title: Demonstration panel showing technique for raising travertine and marble blocks for the construction of the tomb of Cecilia Metella, Rome, from "Le Antichità Romane"
kurzbeschreibung
Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this technical plate in 1756 to demonstrate the lifting devices used for moving travertine and marble blocks during the construction of the Tomb of Cecilia Metella in Rome. It belongs to the series 'Le Antichità Romane' and combines several views of the construction technique into a single compositional arrangement.
Description
On the left, a close-up of an arch on a pedestal; in the middle, a hoisting machine lifting arches; on the right, a larger overall view of the technique with workers operating the machine. Three illustrations are united here in black and white. Letters label the individual parts of the device. Evenly distributed light emphasizes the technical character, and the style remains precise and informative, as is typical of 18th-century technical illustrations.
Context
The plate was created in 1756 as part of Piranesi's four-volume work 'Le Antichità Romane', which documented the ancient buildings of Rome. In his etchings, the Venetian architect and engraver combined archaeological accuracy with artistic drama. His fascination with the engineering achievements of antiquity, which he promoted as a model for contemporary architecture, is particularly evident in this plate.
Impact
A factual, almost textbook-like atmosphere transports the viewer into the world of ancient building technology. The combination of precise drawing and monumental subject matter creates a mixture of admiration and intellectual curiosity.
Technique
As an etching—an intaglio process in which the drawing is scratched into a metal plate etched with acid and then printed on paper—the sheet shows the fine line work and clear draughtsmanship typical of Piranesi. The dimensions are 52 x 72 cm (sheet) and 46.5 x 51.7 cm (plate).
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)