View of the Ancient Structure Built by Tarquinius Superbus Called the Bel Lido, and Like Others, Built by Marcus Agrippa in the Time of Augustus When He Cleaned All of the Sewers Leading to the Tiber, from Views of Rome

Date

1776

Creator

As contemporary figures and boats populate the waters of the Tiber, ancient and later constructions line its shores with prominence given to the structure of the Cloaca Maxima. An Etruscan work which functions even today, the Cloaca is the ancient sewage system designed to drain waste water from Rome's center. The Cloaca is at the heart of the composition with the ancient Round Temple looming above, surrounded by buildings from subsequent centuries. In the distance, Piranesi has marked "D" and "E" the monastery and church of Saint Alessio and the Priory of the Knights of Malta. Though minuscule, these buildings have significance for Piranesi, who was given the honorific title "Cav. Piranesi" by the Knights and signed his prints, including this one, as such. from Sullo, The World of Piranesi: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Learning beyond the Classroom through Italian Language and Culture (Notre Dame, 2010)