The Waterfall at Tivoli (Veduta della cascata di Tivoli)

This view depicts the cascade at Tivoli outside of Rome, where the Aniene River descends through a narrow gorge. The breathtaking beauty of the site made it a favorite with artists and tourists. Piranesi here has exploited the chiaroscuro effects of illuminated waters against rocky cliffs in shadow to give a dramatic sense of compositional depth. Although he has included some occasional small figures for picturesque effect, the image overall is an expression of the sublime power of nature. Some sixty years after the date of this print, a breach in the Aniene gouged out the river bed, causing many buildings to collapse, and changing the look of the whole area.