Trofei di Ottaviano Augusto Innalzati per la Vittoria ad Actium e Conquista dell'Egitto con Vari Altri Ornamenti Antichi

Art Historical Context

Step into the grand world of 18th-century Rome through *Trofei di Ottaviano Innalzati per laoria ad Actium e Conquista dell'Egitto con Vari Altri Ornamentiichi* (Trophies of Octavian Augustus for the Victory at Act and the Conquest of Egypt with Various Other Ornaments), an illustrated by the visionary Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. Published originally in 1753 and represented here by the first Paris edition (1800–1807), this work captures Piranesi's lifelong passion for Roman antiquity. As a master etcher and architect, he produced intricate, dramatic depictions of ancient architecture and artifacts, blending meticulous observation with imaginative grandeur. The volume celebrates Emperor Augustus's pivotal 31 BCE victory at the Battle of Actium, which ended the Roman Republic and ushered in the Empire, alongside his conquest of Egypt. Piranesi's etchings showcase triumphal trophies—elaborate sculptural monuments adorned with naval spoils, Egyptian motifs, and other classical ornaments—reviving these symbols of imperial power for Enlightenment-era audiences. His vedute style, with deep shadows and soaring perspectives, evokes the sublime scale of Rome's past, influencing neoclassical architects and Romantic artists alike. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Mark J. Millard Architectural Collection (David K. E. Bruce Fund), this rare volume invites visitors to ponder how Piranesi's prints preserved and romanticized history, bridging ancient triumphs with modern wonder. A testament to his genius, it reminds us of art's power to resurrect lost glories.

About the Artist

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (author)

Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778) was born near Venice, Italy, the son of a stonemason and master builder. His brother Andrea, a Carthusian monk, introduced him to Latin literature and ancient Greco-Roman civilization, sparking a lifelong passion for antiquity. Apprenticed to his uncle Matteo Lucchesi, a leading architect in Venice's waterworks, Piranesi gained practical training in structura...