Vedute: The Colosseum. Bird’s Eye View
Artist: Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778)
Date: about 1772-1778
Dimensions:
Sheet: 20 1/8 × 29 7/8 in. (51.1 × 75.9 cm)
Image: 19 5/8 × 28 in. (49.8 × 71.1 cm)
Medium: Etching
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1981.29
Label Text:The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater ever built during the time of the Roman Empire. Its construction began around 70 CE and was completed ten years later. Situated just east of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum was used to present public spectacles, including gladiatorial combat, for nearly 500 years. In the early medieval period the building ceased to be used for entertainment. From then it functioned as everything from housing, to workshops, to a fortress, and even a Christian shrine, as it was at the time Piranesi etched this view (note the monumental crucifix in the center of the arena).
Piranesi was so skilled in perspective and had such a thorough knowledge of the building and its construction, that he was able to produce this view as if he had seen the Colosseum from the air.
Piranesi was so skilled in perspective and had such a thorough knowledge of the building and its construction, that he was able to produce this view as if he had seen the Colosseum from the air.
Not on view
In Collection(s)