Front View of the Column of Marcus Aurelius (Veduta del Prospetto Principale della Colonna Antonia), Part 1 from Base

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Caption

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, Venetian, 1720–1778). Front View of the Column of Marcus Aurelius (Veduta del Prospetto Principale della Colonna Antonia), Part 1 from Base, 1774–1779. Engraving, Sheet: 22 1/4 x 31 1/4 in. (56.5 x 79.4 cm) Image: 21 7/8 x 18 3/4 in. (55.6 x 47.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X1042.134b.

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Front View of the Column of Marcus Aurelius (Veduta del Prospetto Principale della Colonna Antonia), Part 1 from Base

Date

1774–1779

Medium

Engraving

Classification

Print

Dimensions

Sheet: 22 1/4 x 31 1/4 in. (56.5 x 79.4 cm) Image: 21 7/8 x 18 3/4 in. (55.6 x 47.6 cm)

Inscriptions

The inscription on the base indicates that this is the column built by Pope Sixtus V to purify all impiety with a gilded bronze statue of St. Paul the Apostle; on top dated 1589 the 4th year of Sixtus V's Papacy. Also explanatory text is provided for each band of the column's relief scenes. Dimensions are also indicated.

Credit Line

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Accession Number

X1042.134b

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