His work focused on the physical remnants of the past. He published seven volumes of his Recueil d'Antiquités, which documented ancient Egyptian and Roman finds. Caylus used his position at the Royal Academy to promote a strict form of classicism. He avoided the ornate styles of his era. Instead, he preferred the clear lines found in ancient sculpture. In his Recueil de peintures antiques, he focused on reproducing the exact colour and line of ancient murals.

Modern collectors value these prints for their academic clarity. The etchings provide a structured look at antiquity without the clutter of later decorative movements. These works function as both historical documents and minimalist art. They suit contemporary spaces that require a sense of order and history. His prints offer a direct connection to the origins of Neoclassical design.