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Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Remains of a room belonging to the Praetorian Fort at Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli, from Views of Rome

1774, published 1800–07
Etching on heavy ivory laid paper
43.6 × 57.6 cm (17.2 × 22.7 in)

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

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

In this print published by Piranesi’s sons, the artist depicted the remnants of the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s 2nd-century villa at Tivoli, near Rome. Described by Piranesi as a room belonging to the barracks of the Praetorian Guard, the so-called Hall of the Philosophers is now thought to have been a library used for important council meetings. The apsidal chamber was originally embellished with purple porphyry stone, a coffered ceiling, and imperial sculpture in the niches. Etchings like this would have been popular as souvenirs for tourists visiting Rome as part of the Grand Tour in the late 18th century.

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