Antique Copper Engraving of Paestum by Francesco Piranesi
Francesco PIRANESI (1758-1810) was the son of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778), a famous archeologist, architect, antiquarian, artist and founder of what became an extremely well-known family workshop in Rome. As a family (together with Francesco's sister/ Giovanni Battista's other child, Laura), they ran a spectacular print workshop in Rome that focused on the promotion of the ruins and the classical architecture and design of Antiquity. Their engravings were made for both 18th c. aristocratic visitors who came to Italy to learn about Antiquity as part of "The Grand Tour" as well as for Italians interested in their heritage. This particular engraving identifies itself in French as “Vue des 18 colonnes…” [of the Temple of Hera II/ Neptune] in Paestum et al. The engraving features the immense ancient Temple of Hera II (sometimes also known as the Temple of Neptune) (450 BCE) and the adjacent ancient Temple of Athena (500 BCE). A few men on horseback and a shepherd tending cattle are in the foreground. These ruins are still visible in a similar state today and are some of the best preserved ancient Greek temples in all of Southern Italy, then known as Greater Greece—or Magna Graecia; today the location is in the Province of Salerno, Campania, just south of Naples.
21" x 28"; framed dimensions: 37" x 29"

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