Artwork preview

The Prisons: A Perspective of Arches with a Smoking Fire

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image depicts a black and white drawing of an interior scene with multiple levels. The scene has a series of connected arches forming walkways and ceilings. The arches have a slight curve at the top. There are several people standing on the lowest level. The people are small in comparison to the large structures around them. The drawing shows a perspective view with lines converging in the distance. The tone of the image ranges from light to dark gray. The background fades into the distance, with lighter shades near the top. A fire burns, emitting smoke. The fire and smoke are located near the center of the image. The overall atmosphere appears to be one of a large, possibly ancient or historical structure. The image has a border around it, with a slightly darker shade on the left and right sides.

Artwork Details

Dimensions
685 × 900 px
Museum Record
View original
Palette