Zuil van Marcus Aurelius met rechts de Tempel van Hadrianus - Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi, capturing the Column of Marcus Aurelius and the Temple of Hadrian in Rome.

This etching, published by the prolific Roman printmaker Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi, depicts the Piazza Colonna and the surrounding structures of seventeenth-century Rome. The composition is dominated by the Column of Marcus Aurelius, which stands prominently on the left. To the right, the remains of the Temple of Hadrian are visible, showing the characteristic Corinthian columns that were integrated into later buildings. The print captures the urban fabric of the city during the Baroque period, documenting how ancient monuments were repurposed or surrounded by contemporary dwellings and commercial activity.

De' Rossi operated one of the most active printing houses in Rome, known for producing topographical views that served both as souvenirs for travellers on the Grand Tour and as records for scholars of classical antiquity. The technique employs fine cross-hatching to define the textures of the stone and the atmospheric quality of the Roman sky. The inclusion of small figures in the foreground provides a sense of scale, contrasting the monumental nature of the ancient ruins with the daily life of the city. The text inscribed at the base of the print provides historical details regarding the height of the column and the number of steps, reflecting the era's interest in empirical observation and the documentation of classical heritage. This work offers a clear view of the site before later urban interventions altered the appearance of the piazza. It remains a valuable record for those interested in the history of Roman topography and the evolution of the city's architectural identity.