Embankment of the Tiber (Walls of Tarquin), 1776
Giovanni Battista Piranesiexpand_more
Etchingexpand_more
The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916expand_more P.492
Not on Viewexpand_more
The Tiber River runs through the heart of Rome. Here Piranesi treats us to a scenic view of the arched opening where the Cloaca Maxima, the great sewer of Rome, discharges its waste. Fortunately, we are upstream! Piranesi’s middle-of-the-river vantage point is the southern tip of the only island in the Tiber.
In his inscription, Piranesi credits Tarquinius Superbus (r. 535–509 BCE), the last king of the Romans, with constructing the embankments, but that has not been proven. The round building with the columns and conical roof is the Temple of Hercules the Victor, from the late 100s BCE.
Details
- Title
- Embankment of the Tiber (Walls of Tarquin)
- Artist Life
- Italian, 1720–1778
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.492
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Hind 125 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.
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