Colonna eretta in memoria dell'Apoteosi di Antonino Pio, e Faustina sua moglie, il di cui Piedestallo si vede inalzato sulla Piazza di Monte Citorio

Pl. [1], [2] are usually printed on one sheet (as in the Royal Academy's copy). Pl. [5] and [6] are both large, folded double plates printed from 2 coppers each (with the copper representing the base in plate [5] being re-used to represent the base in plate [6} also). (In later states - as in the Royal Academy's copy - plates [5] and [6] both make use of one additional copper representing part of the original base.)

The title is taken from the caption of Plate [I]. This set of plates is assigned to 1779 by Francesco Piranesi; and is mentioned in those states of Piranesi's Catalogo that have been thought to date from about the time of his death. It forms a sequel to Piranesi's Trofeo O Sia Magnifica Colonna Coclide ... Da Traiano (ca. 1774) and Colonna Antonina (ca. 1776) - and the three sets are often found bound together.

The plates show [1] a reconstruction of the column of Antoninus Pius, [2] a plan of the site, [3] a view of the pedestal, [4] a view of the base and part of the damaged column, [5] elevation of the new base, incorporating the bas-relief of the apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and his consort Faustina, [6] elevation of the original pedestal, showing the bas-relief of the military funeral procession.

The column was erected by Antoninus's successor, Marcus Aurelius, in 161 A.D. It was excavated in 1703, but the column itself was destroyed by fire in 1764.