«Della Magnificenza Ed Architettura De’Romani» written by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in 1761 deals with the ancient architecture and its grace.
For this task I took a closer look at the very beginning of the book and as well at the last chapter.
Just after the front page and a few blank ones, there are three following pages that are entirely dedicated to Pope Clemens XIII. Firstly there is a portrait of the pope with the caption «Clemens Decimustertius, Pontifex Maximus Venetus”, afterwards there’s a personal inscription form Piranesi to Pope Clemens. Piranesi expresses great gratitude for the assignment that Clemens entrusted to him and he honors the Pope most highly, among other things in terms of knowledge and interest in the architecture and buildings of Rome. The job that the Pope entrusted to Piranesi implies the construction of a Christian monument, the rebuilding of chorus of San Goivanni in Laterano. The dedication shows Piranesis solidarity to the Pope and therefore as well to Petrus and the ancient Rome.
At the end of the book there is an entire chapter exclusively reserved for pictures, that confirms Piranesis interest and commitment to the ancient Rome and its architecture. The chapter contains several copper engraving and drawings of buildings and architecture elements – they’re all very precise and elaborate. We can see that Piranesi seems to be deeply impressed by the monumentality of the ancient ruins and is interested in its rules and details. By measuring the ruins and documenting them visually precisely, he succeeds in resurrecting the ruins and giving them new life.