Piranesi’s originality lay in his eclecticism. Pulling together
influences from Egyptian, Etruscan, Ancient Roman, and Greek
designs, Piranesi presented a hybrid design system that was
rooted in his commitment to the stature and importance of the
Roman design heritage. From this starting point, the
architectural elements move from historical recreations to
articulated fantasy. While his contemporaries championed the
supremacy of the Greek taste, Piranesi held on to his belief
that the Romans were every bit as relevant to the course of
architecture and design. Much like post-modern architects,
Piranesi believed that new design can result from re-combining
existing motifs, ideas, and designs. One look at the magnificent
spread of his imaginary architectural composition in the Parere
su l’Architettura of 1765 instantly reveals his design
aesthetic. Not only is the façade enormous, but it demonstrates
an assemblage of elements from all the ancient sites and
cultures from the Mediterranean. Greco-Roman elements ar