In 1740, Piranesi left Venice for Rome to study the magnificence and majesty of ancient Roman architecture from antiquities. During his stay, he spent a great deal of time exploring Roman ruins and learning the art of etching. The Carceri (Imaginary Prisons) were first issued as a collection of fourteen etchings around 1749-1750 and then reissued, after significant reworking, as a set of sixteen in 1761. In the prints small figures inhabit massive subterranean vaults, filled with bridges, stairways, and imposing machinery, the artist taking his architectural studies to new imitative ends. In this view, by capturing the complex scene from an extreme perspective, Piranesi imbues a realistic space with an impactful sense of wonder and fantasy, a characteristic feature of his architectural drawings and prints. In second-edition impressions, Piranesi made notable changes to the image, including the addition of another wooden bridge. He also added considerable shading to define and darken objects, further enhancing the work's ominous character.