Married his wife 5 days after he met her while he was drawing a sketch of the Colosseum. He spent her dowry on copper plates and paper.
Architect and archaeologist known for his series of etchings. "The Views" (1751-1754) featured the ruins of Rome and her poor. "The Prisons" (1745-1761) featured surrealistic subterranean vaults with stairs and machines.