The end wall of a palatial hall with columns supporting an architrave with arches above

Charles Townley (1737-1805), raised in a Catholic family, was educated in France and from his first trip to Italy in 1768 became a passionate collector of antiquities. Piranesi, with Byres, Gavin Hamilton and Thomas Jenkins, was one of Townley's main suppliers. During Townley's first trip Piranesi sold him a pair of Roman altars from the Palazzo Odescalchi, during his second trip in 1772-4, Etruscan vases, and at his last one in 1777, a colossal marble head of Hercules found at Hadrian's Villa by Hamilton. Upon his death, Townley's collection went to the British Museum.
Piranesi etched as part of his Vasi, candelabri, cippi, sarcofagi, tripodi, lucerne, ed ornamenti antichi published in 1778, vases he probably sold to Townley with the comment 'Vasi antichi di marmo eccelentemente scolpiti, si vedono in Inghilterra presso il Sigr Cavalier Townley, transportativi nell'anno 1768.'. This series of prints was designed to stimulate Piranesi's activities as a dealer in Antiquities.