The Tomb, called La Conocchia, 1776
Giovanni Battista Piranesiexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916expand_more P.495
Not on Viewexpand_more
This distinctive tomb is nicknamed La Conocchia, or spindle, whose shape it recalls. A spindle is a simple tool used to spin raw fiber into yarn (see below). It sits along the Appian Way, well south of Rome, almost to Naples. It is believed to have been built in the 100s CE, possibly for the only daughter of Emperor Vespasian. Here, as elsewhere, Piranesi populates his images with picturesque figures whose interest in antiquity seems limited to its ability to provide a place to lean or a spot of shade amid the intense Italian daylight. The artist uses the figures to give a sense of the monument’s scale and a sense of the enormity of ancient ambition compared to that of his own time.
Details
- Title
- The Tomb, called La Conocchia
- Artist Life
- Italian, 1720–1778
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.495
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Hind 130 i/iii
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.