Selected etchings by Piranesi, series 1.

This volume gathers a striking selection of Giovanni Piranesi’s etchings, offering listeners a vivid tour of Rome’s ancient grandeur and the artist’s imaginative reconstructions. From the soaring arches of the Colosseum and the solemn vault of the Pantheon to fanciful “imaginary prisons” and elegant vases, the plates capture both the solid forms of historic monuments and the delicate ornamentation that inspired generations of designers.

The accompanying introduction places Piranesi’s work in the context of late‑eighteenth‑century English architecture, when architects turned away from rigid Palladian formulas toward a richer, more inventive classicism. It explains how his detailed, almost theatrical visions of Roman detail fueled the creativity of figures such as Robert Adam and the decorative designers of the period. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation of how Piranesi’s prints acted as a visual encyclopedia, bridging scholarly study and artistic imagination.