The way in which they raised large travertine, marble, and other building materials in the large tomb of Cecilia Metella. Plate LIV

This beautiful engraving shows the ancient Roman tomb of Cecilia Metella, located just outside Rome. In his majestic way, Piranesi showed how the tomb was built. The Tomb of Caecilia is one of the most well-known and well-preserved monuments along the Via Appia and is a popular tourist site.

Engraved and published by Giovanni-Battista Piranesi, a famous Italian engraver and architect. He was born in Morano di Mestre on 4 October 1720 and died in Rome on 9 November 1778. Piranesi was known by the nickname “Rembrandt of architecture”. The artist not only reproduced the ancient vestiges of the power of Rome but was also one of the most authoritative archaeologists of his time. Despite a great reputation and magnificent fame, Piranesi never got rich because of the very low prices of his works. He was a member of the Order of Christ and the London Antiques Society. Extremely rare collector’s example from Piranesi’s first and most important work “Le Antichita Romane”

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Dimension of the plate: 509 x 309 mm; 12 x 20 inches (approx)

Year: 1756

Engraver: Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Technique: Copperplate

Condition: Lines of folding, minor foxing, sheet worn along the edges, with some tears.