Our production "Piranesi – Architect of the Imagination" will be broadcast on ARTE on January 17 at 10:55 p.m. and will then be available to stream in the media library. The film by Henrike Sandner is an artist portrait of the Italian architect and engraver Giovanni Battista Piranesi.

The architect who reinvented Rome: Piranesi and his visions

Giovanni Battista Piranesi – the Italian architect, engraver, and archaeologist was dubbed the "Rembrandt of ancient ruins" by his contemporaries at the end of the 18th century. Rome was Piranesi's inspiration, his life's work, and, if you will, he reinvented Rome in his numerous vedute. Piranesi has forever shaped our image of the "Eternal City." During his lifetime, he was a respected Roman artist and businessman. After his death, he became famous above all for his enigmatic depictions of dungeons, the "Carceri." Piranesi's fantastic work continues to have an impact today as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists and thinkers.

In the footsteps of Piranesi in Rome and around the world

The film follows in the footsteps of the Venice-born artist. International experts describe and interpret Piranesi's works and career. The journey begins in Rome, Piranesi's adopted home, which had a decisive influence on him and his life's work. New York curator John J. Marciari also shares his views on Piranesi, as does enthusiastic art collector Martin Meyer from Switzerland. Piranesi's works and architectural fantasies can be found all over the world, including in Germany, in the Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings) of the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe.

However, there is only one building in the world that was actually designed by Piranesi: Santa Maria del Priorato on the Aventine Hill in Rome. In 1764, at the height of his career, Giovanni Battista Piranesi was commissioned to redesign this church belonging to the Order of Malta. His only architectural work later became his final resting place. And somehow it is fitting for this enigmatic artist that his tomb and the church he rebuilt are now hidden behind a lavishly decorated portal. The site is no longer open to the public. Nevertheless, the perpetually locked gate remains an attraction. Every day, a line of people gathers here, waiting patiently to peek through the keyhole and see the greatly enlarged dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Broadcast date

At January 17 at 10:55 p.m. shows ARTE the 52-minute film by author Henrike Sandner for the first time on TV. Afterwards, the documentary will be available as usual in the ARTE media library. We will of course publish further news and broadcast information via our News Section on Facebook or Instagram.