Piranesi's Antichita romane

One of the important series of 'views' produced by Giovanni Battista Piranesi is Antichita romane.

These archaelogical representations of Roman buildings and ruins were collected and published in the 1750's.  The original four-volume set contained over 200 etchings demonstrating Piranesi's research into the engineering skills of the ancient Romans.  He hoped Antichita romane would inspire his contemporaries to emulate the architectural achievements of ancient Rome. 

Piranesi's 'views' were especially prized by British aristocrats traveling on the Grand Tour, who took them home where they greatly influenced British neo-classical architecture.