Artwork preview

The Prisons: A Perspective of Roman Arches, with Two Lions Carved in Relief on Stone Slabs in the Foreground

Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Cleveland Museum of Art

Dark image with detailed stone architecture and figures. Multiple levels of archways and stairs visible. Two stone slabs in the foreground with relief carvings of lions. Figures of people in various positions throughout. Staircase and platform on the left side. Wooden beam with chains hanging. Several people working or moving around. Background shows more stairs and archways receding into distance. Black and white, with detailed shading and texture. The lions are carved on rectangular stone slabs. The image depicts a complex interior with depth. The lions appear calm and are shown in profile. There are various architectural details throughout. The scene includes several visual layers.

Artwork Details

Dimensions
670 × 900 px
Museum Record
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Palette