Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Italian, 1720-1778
Veduta del Tempio di Giove Tonante (View of the temple of Jupiter Tonans), 1756
Etching
The temple to the left of the scene, multiple figures gathered at the base of the columns, the title below. Matted behind glass and framed.

Piranesi considered the Temple of Jupiter Tonans one of the most splendid examples of ancient Roman architecture. Situated at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, the ancient building stands right at the "roots" of the Roman Forum. In fact, in the previous veduta of this site, positions the Temple, which stands at the foot of the Capitoline hill and thus at the “roots” of the Roman Forum, in both its visual design and textual key. The first iteration of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans was erected in 26 BCE by Octavian Augustus and dedicated in 22 BCE to celebrate his escape from being struck by lightning whilst on campaign in Cantabria.
Plate: 15 1/2 x 23 1/4 in. (39.4 x 59.1 cm.), frame: 25 3/4 x 33 3/4 in. (65.4 x 85.7 cm.)
Ex Iowa Wesleyan University collection

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