Minneapolis Institute of Art

Campo Vaccino, Forum Romanum

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Date

1772

Medium

Etching with drypoint

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

By Piranesi’s day, the grand Roman Forum had become the Campo Vaccino—the “cow field.” Three columns topped by a bit of crumbling entablature were all that remained of the Temple of Castor and Pollux, twins known as the Gemini. According to legend, the brave brothers helped the young republic defeat the last of Rome’s tyrant kings. The temple was dedicated in the year 6 CE. At the far left is the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, completed in 141 CE. Emperor Antoninus dedicated it to his deceased and deified wife, Faustina. For a sense of scale, note that its columns are 56 feet—or about five stories—tall. The pagan structure was largely preserved because centuries later it was converted into a church. In the distance, we can see the Colosseum, the huge ancient Roman amphitheater, and the Basilica of Constantine. Italy, Europe

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