PIRANESI. Veduta di Piazza di Spagna. Etching.

In 1747 Piranesi began work on the Vedute di Roma, a labour of love that he returned to for the rest of his life. This series of 135 individually produced plates were highly influential on the European idea of classical antiquity. The knowledge of ancient building methods that he brought to his archaeological prints led to his election to the Society of Antiquarians of London in 1757. 

After the author's death, in 1778, the plates were inherited by his son Francesco, who took care of its publication first in the capital, and later in Paris. Further editions were produced up to 1835 when the firm of Firmin-Didot acquired the plates. They continued to issue impressions until 1839 when the plates were bought by the Camera Apostolica in Rome. The plates are now housed in the Calcografie Nazionale in Rome.