The Pantheon Exterior

Before-and, still to a large extent, since-the advent of photography, non-resident admirers of ancient, Renaissance- and Baroque-era Roman monuments have acquired notions of their appearance through the Vedute (Views) prints of Piranesi. Despite their frequent departures from actual scale, spatial organization and perspective, Piranesi's vedute convey the timeless, dramatic presence of these architectural landmarks. This example takes as its subject the Pantheon, which remains the most intact ancient Roman building, restored in 202 C.E. after two previous destructions. Here its massive façade is shown with the twin campanile and more of the dome and drum than a spectator would actually see from this vantage point.