The Aqueduct of Nero Leading to the Palatine; a Branch of the Aqua Claudia, 1775
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The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund, 1966expand_more P.17,309
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Emperor Nero (37–68) appears to have ordered the construction of this mile-and-a-quarter stretch of aqueduct (an elevated waterway) to serve Rome’s Palatine Hill after a devastating fire in the year 64 CE. Piranesi’s diagonal composition dramatizes the structure’s imposing scale. His inscription tells us that Pope Clement XIV (r. 1769–74) rescued the ancient aqueduct’s remains when others wanted to raze them. Clement shared Piranesi’s love of Rome’s proud past and worked to save monuments and smaller works of art.
Details
- Title
- The Aqueduct of Nero Leading to the Palatine; a Branch of the Aqua Claudia
- Artist Life
- Italian, 1720–1778
- Role
- Maker
- Accession Number
- P.17,309
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Hind 118 i/iii(p. 69); Wilton-Ely
- 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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