# View of the Villa of His Eminence Cardinal Alessandro Albani, outside Porta Salaria, from Views of Rome

**Giovanni Battista Piranesi** (Italian, 1720–1778)  
1769, published 1800–07  
Etching on ivory laid paper  
48.2 × 70.5 cm (19 × 27 13/16 in.)

Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1927.4814. [The museum's record](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/48151).

## About this work

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this in 1769, published 1800–07, aged 49. It is now at the Art Institute of Chicago.

### What you’re looking at

A work made of etching on ivory laid paper.

_Description from the Art Institute of Chicago._

### How it was made

- **Etching.** The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Giovanni Battista Piranesi](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/giovanni-battista-piranesi)

Italian, 1720–1778; born in Mogliano Veneto; died in Rome

Piranesi trained in Venice as an architect and stage designer before moving to Rome in 1740, where he spent the rest of his life. He is known above all for his etchings: the Views of Rome, more than a hundred large plates of ancient ruins and modern buildings, and the Imaginary Prisons, vast fantastical interiors of stairs, arches and machinery. A passionate champion of Roman architecture, he also published archaeological studies and designed the church of Santa Maria del Priorato.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Print
- Culture: Italy
- The artist was 49
- Real size: about 19 × 28 in (48 × 70 cm). The 20 × 30 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Movement: [Rococo](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/rococo)
- Colour: grey
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/156.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/156/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/view-of-the-villa-of-his-eminence-cardinal-alessandro-albani-aic-48151).