DISCOVERART

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

The Round Tower, plate 3 from the second edition of Carceri d'invenzione (Imaginary Prisons)

1750, reworked 1761
Etching, engraving, sulphur tint, and burnishing in black on ivory laid paper
54.2 × 41 cm (21.3 × 16.1 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In addition to dramatic views of Roman architecture, Giovanni Battista Piranesi created a series of prison interiors that were entirely invented. These vast, entangled passageways and cavernous chambers were first printed around 1750. Ten years later, Piranesi reworked the plates, heightening their ominous state in an implied critique of social injustice.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Views of Rome: Temple of CybeleViews of Rome: Temple of CybeleThe Piazza della Rotonda, with the Pantheon and Obelisk (Veduta della Piazza della Rotonda), from "Vedute di Roma"The Piazza della Rotonda, with the Pantheon and Obelisk (VedThe Forum Romanum, or Campo Vaccino, from the Capitol, with the Arch of Septimius in the foreground left, Temple of Vespian right, and the Colosseum in the distance (Veduta di Campo Vaccino)The Forum Romanum, or Campo Vaccino, from the Capitol, with The Piazza Navona, Rome, above the ruins of the Circus of Domitian, the Church of Sant Agnese to the right, Bernini's fountain in the center, from "Vedute di Roma"The Piazza Navona, Rome, above the ruins of the Circus of DoView of the Campo Vaccino (Roman Forum with the Temple of Castor and Pollux to right), from "Vedute di Roma" (Roman Views), part IIView of the Campo Vaccino (Roman Forum with the Temple of CaView of the Flavian Amphitheater, called the Colosseum, from "Vedute di Roma" (Roman Views), part IIView of the Flavian Amphitheater, called the Colosseum, fromThe Forum Romanum, or Campo Vaccino, from the capitol, with the Arch of Septimus Severus in the foreground left, Temple of Vespian right, and the Colosseum in the distance (Veduta di Campo Vaccino), from "Vedute di Roma"The Forum Romanum, or Campo Vaccino, from the capitol, with View of the Temple of Cybele in the Piazza of the Bocca della Verità, from Views of RomeView of the Temple of Cybele in the Piazza of the Bocca dell

More like this

The Round Tower, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The Round TowThe Prisons: A Vaulted Building with a Central Column with Barred WindowGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe Pier with Chains, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The Pier withThe Prisons: A Perspective of Arches with a Smoking FireGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe Gothic Arch, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The Gothic ArThe Smoking Fire, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The Smoking FPrisoners on a Projecting Platform, Plate 10Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — Prisoners The Staircase with Trophies, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The StaircaseThe Prisons: A Wide Hall with LanternsGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe Prisons: A Perspective of Arches with a Smoking Fire in the CenterGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The PrisonThe Sawhorse, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)Giovanni Battista Piranesi|Giovanni Bouchard — The Sawhorse,The Prisons: A Vast Interior with TrophiesGiovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720–1778) — The Prison