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The Metropolitan Museum of Art

33,661 works

Etching of a ruined Roman triumphal arch with small figures and overgrown walls, by Piranesi, ca. 1750.

Plate 24: Arch of Pola in Istria near the Gate (Arco di Pola in Istria vicino alla Porta), from "Alcune Vedute di Arc…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of the Pola amphitheater in Istria with tiered arches beside the sea, with boats and figures in the foreground.

Plate 23: Amphitheater of Pola in Istria near the sea (Anfiteatro di Pola in Istria vicino al mare), from "Alcune Ved…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of a ruined classical temple rear facade with overgrown plants, a smaller building, and figures among trees.

Plate 22: Rear View of the Temple of Pola in Istria. 1. Rear View of another temple. (Rovescio del Tempio di Pola di…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of the ruined Temple of Pola with Corinthian columns, a pediment, overgrown vegetation and small figures among the ru

Plate 21: Temple of Pola in Istria (Tempio di Pola in Istria), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed altri monume…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of the circular Tomb of Caecilia Metella in Rome with an inscribed panel, a ruined arch at right, and figures among t

Plate 20: Tomb of Caecilia Metella called the Capo di Bove (Ox Head) (Sepolcro di Metela detto Capo di Bove), from "A…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of the curved ruined wall of the Tomb of the Scipios in Rome, overgrown with plants, with figures among stone fragmen

Plate 18: The Tomb of the Scipios (Sepolcro della famiglia de' Scipioni), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi Trionfali ed a…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of a ruined Roman triumphal arch overgrown with ivy, with a fallen inscribed block and small figures in the street.

Plate 17: The Arch of Rimini built by Augustus (Arco di Rimino fabbricato da Augusto), from "Alcune Vedute di Archi T…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1748

Etching of an imagined Roman forum with colonnades, loggias, fountains, horse statues and figures walking on the paved square

Ancient Roman forum surrounded by porticoes, with loggias, some of which communicate with the Imperial Palace and oth…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of an ancient Roman mausoleum with obelisks, urns, colonnades and statues, with small figures on stepped terraces.

Ancient mausoleum erected for the ashes of a Roman Emperor (Mausoleo antico eretto per le ceneri d'un Imperadore Roma…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Pencil drawing of a rococo wall design with scrollwork, garlands, and floral motifs in framed panels.

Wall Design

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Pencil drawing of an ornate rococo niche with an arched opening, scrolling ornament, and a domed crown.

Ornamental Design for Niche

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Pencil design drawing of a rococo ceiling with an oval central panel framed by scrolls, foliage and floral ornament.

Design for Ceiling

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Pen and ink design drawing of a paneled interior wall with a door and rococo scrolled ornament above.

Design for Door

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Pencil drawing of a coffered ceiling with hexagonal rosette panels, rococo scrollwork and an oval cartouche.

Ceiling Design

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Pen and wash drawing of an elderly bearded man reading at a table beside a skull and hourglass.

St. Jerome reading

Isaac Oliver, 16th-17th century

Watercolour of a pale shingle beach with figures and driftwood, a boat, and white chalk cliffs under a grey sky.

Culver Cliff, Isle of Wight

William Dyce, 1847

Watercolor of figures and sailing boats on a beach beneath a dark storm cloud, with dunes and cottages at left.

Figures on a beach in northern France

Thomas Shotter Boys, 1830

Etching of a grand courtyard with columns, arches, fountains with sculpted figures, and steps with small figures.

Group of columns which support two arches of a great courtyard... (Gruppo di Colonne, che regge due archi d'un grande…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of an imagined ancient temple interior with a coffered dome, Corinthian columns, a grand staircase, and smoking sacre

Imaginery ancient temple designed in the style of those built in honor of the Goddess Vesta... (Tempio antico inventa…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Pencil drawing of a stage set showing an arched classical opening, garland, and a garden path lined with trees.

Design for Stage Set

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Etching of an ancient altar with carved reliefs, surrounded by ruined columns, skulls and overgrown plants.

Ancient Altar on which sacrifices were performed in antiquity, surrounded by other ruins (Ara antica sopra la quale s…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of overgrown Roman tomb ruins with a relief frieze, a waterfall channel, and small figures in the foreground.

Ruins of an ancient tomb in front of ruins of an ancient aqueduct (Ruine di Sepolcro antico posto dinanzi ad altre ru…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of ancient ruins with a porphyry urn, a palm tree, and small figures among fallen stones and columns.

Remains of ancient buldings among which stands the sepulchral urn of Marcus Agrippa made entirely of porphyry, which…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Pen and brown ink architectural section drawing showing a staircase, arched bays, Corinthian columns, niches and a pedimented

Architectural Design in Section

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Etching of a dark vaulted prison with arches, railed galleries, a hanging rope hoist, and small figures below.

Dark prison with a courtyard for the punishment of criminals... (Carcere oscura con Antenna pel suplizio dè malfatori…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of an imaginary Roman sepulchral chamber with tiered niches, arches, a reclining statue, and a sarcophagus overgrown

Camera sepolcrale inventata e disegnata conforme al costume, e all'antica magnificenza degl'Imperatori Romani... (Ima…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Pen and brown ink drawing of three standing figures in flowing robes, with curly-haired men and a veiled woman on the right.

Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)

Stefano da Verona, 1435

Pencil design drawing of a cartouche with scrolls, flower garlands and a classical vase on a pedestal.

Design for a Cartouche with garlands and antique vase

Leonardo Marini, 18th century

Etching of a royal courtyard with a central colonnaded loggia, fountains, statues, and small figures on steps.

View of a courtyard with a loggia, fountains, statues, and other ornaments (Prospetto d'un regio Cortile nel cui mezz…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750

Etching of a grand stepped interior with rows of columns, arches, fountains and small figures, by Piranesi.

Stairways adorned by magnificient architecture... (Gruppo di Scale ornato di magnifica Architettura...), from "Prima…

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750