He inspired the "Gothic" sensibilities of writers like Horace Walpole and Thomas De Quincey.

A central theme is how the human mind copes with trauma and isolation. Piranesi’s mind protects him from the horror of his kidnapping by erasing his memory and constructing a mythology where he is a beloved child of the House. Clarke suggests that sanity is not merely a rigid adherence to objective reality, but a state of grace and kindness.

analyzing the protagonist's identity and his ethical relationship with his environment. A Porous Being : A literary essay in

Piranesi's work had a profound impact on the development of art and architecture. His innovative use of atmospheric perspective influenced artists such as J.M.W. Turner and Caspar David Friedrich, while his depictions of ancient ruins inspired architects like Étienne-Louis Boullée and Johann Gottfried Herder.

discussing the tension in his work between strict classical architecture and the "sublime". Piranesi on Paper : A detailed research catalog from the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen