Artworks · Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Interior view of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, from Views of Rome

1768 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 43 × 68 cm (16 15/16 × 26 13/16 in.); Plate: 43.7 × 68.7 cm (17 1/4 × 27 1/16 in.); Sheet: 55.7 × 79 cm (21 15/16 × 31 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Another interior view of the Villa of Maecenas, Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1767 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 41.9 × 60 cm (16 1/2 × 23 5/8 in.); Plate: 42.2 × 60.3 cm (16 5/8 × 23 3/4 in.); Sheet: 48.9 × 66.3 cm (19 5/16 × 26 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the ancient Temple of Bacchus, now the church of S. Urbano, two miles from Rome, from Views of Rome

1767 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.3 × 60 cm (15 7/8 × 23 5/8 in.); Plate: 42.4 × 60.4 cm (16 3/4 × 23 13/16 in.); Sheet: 46.9 × 65.3 cm (18 1/2 × 25 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the ancient Temple of Bacchus, now the church of S. Urbano, two miles from Rome, from Views of Rome

1767 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.4 × 60.1 cm (15 15/16 × 23 11/16 in.); Plate: 42.4 × 60.5 cm (16 3/4 × 23 7/8 in.); Sheet: 56 × 77.7 cm (22 1/16 × 30 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Veduta della Cascata di Tivoli

1766 · etching

overall: 47.3 x 70.8 cm (18 5/8 x 27 7/8 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Remains of a covered portico, or a cryptoporticus, in a villa of Domitian, five miles outside Rome on the Frascati road, from Views of Rome

1766 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 41.8 × 59.8 cm (16 1/2 × 23 9/16 in.); Plate: 42.4 × 60.3 cm (16 3/4 × 23 3/4 in.); Sheet: 55.5 × 72 cm (21 7/8 × 28 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the Flavian Amphitheater, called the Colosseum, from Views of Rome

1766 · Etching on ivory laid paper

Image: 45.4 × 69.3 cm (17 7/8 × 27 5/16 in.); Sheet: 48.7 × 70.7 cm (19 3/16 × 27 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the Colosseum, from Views of Rome

1766 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 45.4 × 69.3 cm (17 7/8 × 27 5/16 in.); Plate: 46.1 × 69.7 cm (18 3/16 × 27 1/2 in.); Sheet: 49.2 × 72.2 cm (19 3/8 × 28 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Grand Cascade at Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1766 · Etching on ivory laid paper

Image: 47.1 × 70.2 cm (18 9/16 × 27 11/16 in.); Sheet: 50.5 × 72 cm (19 15/16 × 28 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

A Young Man with a Staff

1765 · pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper

overall: 15.9 x 10.5 cm (6 1/4 x 4 1/8 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Fantasy on a Magnificent Triumphal Artch

1765 · pen and brown ink, heightened with reed pen and brown ink, some brown wash (laid on eighteenth-century card)

overall: 46.3 x 63.1 cm (18 1/4 x 24 13/16 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Ruins of the Xystus [a long open portico used for athletic exercises], the central hall of the Antonine Baths [The Baths of Caracalla], from Views of Rome

1765 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 42.5 × 65 cm (16 3/4 × 25 5/8 in.); Plate: 43 × 65.6 cm (16 15/16 × 25 7/8 in.); Sheet: 48.1 × 69 cm (18 15/16 × 27 3/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Ruins of the Xystus [a long open portico used for athletic exercises], the central hall of the Antonine Baths [The Baths of Caracalla], from Views of Rome

1765 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 42.6 × 65.1 cm (16 13/16 × 25 11/16 in.); Plate: 43.2 × 65.6 cm (17 1/16 × 25 7/8 in.); Sheet: 55.7 × 78.4 cm (21 15/16 × 30 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Grand Cascade at Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1765 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 47.5 × 70.7 cm (18 3/4 × 27 7/8 in.); Plate: 47.8 × 71.1 cm (18 7/8 × 28 in.); Sheet: 55.9 × 78.6 cm (22 1/16 × 31 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Ruins of the Antonine Baths [Baths of Caracalla], from Views of Rome

1765 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 42 × 69.2 cm (16 9/16 × 27 1/4 in.); Plate: 44.5 × 70 cm (17 9/16 × 27 9/16 in.); Sheet: 55.1 × 79.1 cm (21 3/4 × 31 3/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Prospettiva della Scala della conserva d'acqua de' già detti alloggiamenti, accennati in pianta nella Tav. XIII con la lett. G.

1764 · etching and engraving on laid paper [proof]

plate: 40.6 x 29.8 cm (16 x 11 3/4 in.) sheet: 42.1 x 31 cm (16 9/16 x 12 3/16 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Fantasy of a Magnificent Wall Monument

1764 · pen and dark brown ink with brown wash over black chalk, with some gray wash on laid paper

overall: 60.7 × 47.2 cm (23 7/8 × 18 9/16 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Fantasy of a Façade with Bizarre Ornaments

1764 · pen and dark brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper

overall: 60.1 x 47.2 cm (23 11/16 x 18 9/16 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Title Page: Collection of several drawings engraved after Barbieri da Cento (known as Guercino) engraved on copper and presented to Thomas Jenkins, painter and member of the Academy of St. Luke, out of respect and friendship from his fellow member, the architect Gio. Battista Piranesi

1764 · Etching in red and black ink on ivory laid paper with gilt edges

Plate: 48.2 × 35.5 cm (19 × 14 in.); Sheet: 57.3 × 41.4 cm (22 9/16 × 16 5/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

A. View of the Tomb of Licinianus Piso on the ancient Appian Way... B. Tomb of the Cornelii..., from Views of Rome

1764 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.5 × 60.3 cm (16 × 23 3/4 in.); Plate: 41.3 × 61.1 cm (16 5/16 × 24 1/16 in.); Sheet: 49 × 66.9 cm (19 5/16 × 26 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the so-called Tempio della Tosse [Temple of the Cough], from Views of Rome

1764 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 63 × 46.1 cm (24 13/16 × 18 3/16 in.); Plate: 63.5 × 46.7 cm (25 × 18 7/16 in.); Sheet: 74.3 × 54.9 cm (29 5/16 × 21 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Interior view of the villa of Maecenas, from Views of Rome

1764 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 46.9 × 61.8 cm (18 1/2 × 24 3/8 in.); Plate: 47.6 × 62.4 cm (18 3/4 × 24 5/8 in.); Sheet: 55.7 × 78.9 cm (21 15/16 × 31 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Octagonal Temple of Minerva Medica, from Views of Rome

1764 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 46 × 69.7 cm (18 1/8 × 27 1/2 in.); Plate: 46.8 × 70.5 cm (18 7/16 × 27 13/16 in.); Sheet: 55 × 79.4 cm (21 11/16 × 31 5/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of Ponte Lugano on the Anio, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 45 × 65.8 cm (17 3/4 × 25 15/16 in.); Plate: 45.8 × 66.5 cm (18 1/16 × 26 3/16 in.); Sheet: 51 × 69.6 cm (20 1/8 × 27 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Ancient temple commonly called the Temple of Health on the Via d'Albano five miles outside Rome, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.6 × 55.3 cm (16 × 21 13/16 in.); Plate: 41.3 × 55.9 cm (16 5/16 × 22 1/16 in.); Sheet: 49 × 62 cm (19 5/16 × 24 7/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the So-Called Tempio della Tosse (Temple of the Cough) on the Via Tiburtina a mile from Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 44 × 57.7 cm (17 3/8 × 22 3/4 in.); Plate: 44.5 × 58.4 cm (17 9/16 × 23 in.); Sheet: 56 × 79 cm (22 1/16 × 31 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Ancient temple commonly called the Temple of Health on the Via d'Albano five miles outside Rome, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.5 × 55.3 cm (16 × 21 13/16 in.); Plate: 41.1 × 56 cm (16 3/16 × 22 1/16 in.); Sheet: 56 × 78.7 cm (22 1/16 × 31 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Remains of the Villa of Maecenas at Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 45 × 66.7 cm (17 3/4 × 26 5/16 in.); Plate: 45.5 × 67.2 cm (17 15/16 × 26 1/2 in.); Sheet: 55.5 × 78.4 cm (21 7/8 × 30 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of Ponte Lugano on the Anio, from Views of Rome

1763 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 45.2 × 66.1 cm (17 13/16 × 26 1/16 in.); Plate: 46.1 × 66.9 cm (18 3/16 × 26 3/8 in.); Sheet: 49.8 × 72.9 cm (19 5/8 × 28 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Lapides Capitolini; Le Rovine dell Castello dell'Acqua Giula; Antichità di Cora

1762 · 3 works bound in 1 vol: etchings

National Gallery of Art

View of Two Churches, One Called 1. S. Maria di Loreto, the other 2. The Name of Mary, near 3. Trajan's Column. 4. The ascent to the Quirinal, from Views of Rome

1762 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 42.4 × 68.4 cm (16 3/4 × 26 15/16 in.); Plate: 43 × 68.8 cm (16 15/16 × 27 1/8 in.); Sheet: 46.5 × 70.2 cm (18 5/16 × 27 11/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Ponte Molle [or Milvian Bridge] over the Tiber two miles outside Rome, from Views of Rome

1762 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 43.7 × 67.5 cm (17 1/4 × 26 5/8 in.); Plate: 44 × 67.7 cm (17 3/8 × 26 11/16 in.); Sheet: 56.2 × 78.8 cm (22 3/16 × 31 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Campus Martius of Ancient Rome, the Work of G.B. Piranesi, Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, London

1762 · Book with forty-nine etchings in black on ivory wove paper

Closed: 58 × 43 × 2.4 cm (22 7/8 × 16 15/16 × 1 in.); Open: 83.7 × 58 cm (33 × 22 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Tomb of Caecilia Metella, from Views of Rome

1762 · 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.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Remains of the Mausoleum of Augustus, plate XXI from The Campus Martius of Ancient Rome

1762 · Etching in black ink on cream laid paper

Plate: 21.5 × 35.4 cm (8 1/2 × 13 15/16 in.); Sheet: 39.7 × 53.3 cm (15 11/16 × 21 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Lion Bas-Reliefs

1761 · etching and engraving on laid paper

sheet: 76.7 x 53.6 cm (30 3/16 x 21 1/8 in.)

National Gallery of Art

The Round Tower

1761 · etching, engraving, sulphur tint or open bite, and burnishing on laid paper

sheet: 76.7 x 53.6 cm (30 3/16 x 21 1/8 in.)

National Gallery of Art

Della Magnificenza ed Archittetura; Osservazioni; E Parere su l'Architettura

1761 · 3 works bound in 1 vol: etchings

National Gallery of Art

The Drawbridge, plate 7 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 54.9 × 40.8 cm (21 5/8 × 16 1/8 in.); Plate: 55.5 × 41.1 cm (21 7/8 × 16 3/16 in.); Sheet: 79.2 × 59 cm (31 3/16 × 23 1/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Smoking Fire, plate 6 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 53.7 × 39.4 cm (21 3/16 × 15 9/16 in.); Plate: 54.4 × 40.1 cm (21 7/16 × 15 13/16 in.); Sheet: 78.7 × 57.7 cm (31 × 22 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Staircase with Trophies, plate 8 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 54.3 × 39.4 cm (21 7/16 × 15 9/16 in.); Plate: 55 × 40.3 cm (21 11/16 × 15 7/8 in.); Sheet: 78.9 × 58.4 cm (31 1/8 × 23 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Arch with a Shell Ornament, plate 11 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40 × 54.3 cm (15 3/4 × 21 7/16 in.); Plate: 40.8 × 55 cm (16 1/8 × 21 11/16 in.); Sheet: 58.5 × 77.7 cm (23 1/16 × 30 5/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Prisoners on a Projecting Platform, plate 10 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 41 × 54 cm (16 3/16 × 21 5/16 in.); Plate: 41.5 × 54.8 cm (16 3/8 × 21 5/8 in.); Sheet: 59 × 78.7 cm (23 1/4 × 31 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Sawhorse, plate 12 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.8 × 55 cm (16 1/8 × 21 11/16 in.); Plate: 41.4 × 55.6 cm (16 5/16 × 21 15/16 in.); Sheet: 58.7 × 76.9 cm (23 1/8 × 30 5/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Gothic Arch, plate 14 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.7 × 54 cm (16 1/16 × 21 5/16 in.); Plate: 41.5 × 54.8 cm (16 3/8 × 21 5/8 in.); Sheet: 59 × 78.5 cm (23 1/4 × 30 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Pier with Chains, plate 16 from Imaginary Prisons

1761 · Etching and engraving on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.9 × 55 cm (16 1/8 × 21 11/16 in.); Plate: 40.9 × 55 cm (16 1/8 × 21 11/16 in.); Sheet: 58.5 × 77.8 cm (23 1/16 × 30 11/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Temple of the Sibyl at Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1761 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 40.3 × 63.5 cm (15 7/8 × 25 in.); Plate: 42.5 × 63.7 cm (16 3/4 × 25 1/8 in.); Sheet: 54.2 × 79.2 cm (21 3/8 × 31 3/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View of the Pantheon of Agrippa, today S. Maria ad Martyres, from Views of Rome

1761 · Etching on heavy ivory laid paper

Image: 47 × 68.8 cm (18 9/16 × 27 1/8 in.); Plate: 47.3 × 69.2 cm (18 5/8 × 27 1/4 in.); Sheet: 55.3 × 77.5 cm (21 13/16 × 30 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago