1749
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Veduta della facciata di dietro della Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore is a 1749 ink by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows the back of a grand church with three big domes and tall columns. The building has steps leading up to its entrance, and people walk or stand around outside. A tall obelisk stands to the left, and trees line the front steps. Notice how the artist used shading to make the stone look heavy and real. The sky above is just light lines, so the building stands out even more. If you like this, look up etching to see how artists like Piranesi carved these detailed lines.
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (Italian pronunciation: ; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his…
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