The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) financed the volume "Construction Sites in Europe in the 16th century: architecture and decoration.I.Rome", edited by Silvia Ginzburg, Letizia Tedeschi and Vitale Zanchettin. Published as part of the research "Le «invenzioni di tante opere». Domenico Fontana (1543-1607) e i suoi cantieri" (The «inventions of so many works».Domenico Fontana (1543-1607) and his construction sites"), the book represents the first stage of a larger project involving Archivio del Moderno of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI ), Bibliotheca Hertziana-Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, the Vatican Museums and the Department of Humanistic Studies of Università di Roma Tre.
The volume aims at an innovative re-reading of Roman architectural and artistic undertakings of the 16th century, analysing their construction dynamics, the techniques employed and their historiographical framework. It also proposes to investigate the interaction between architecture and decoration, as well as the European diffusion of the models developed in Roman building sites. This analysis allows us to understand how the 16th-century practices prepared the ground for the stylistic transformations of the 17th century, marking the transition towards the Baroque language.
The project stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, combining historical "reconnaissance" with a new collection of data on materials and techniques, thus initiating novel reflections on the interaction between technical and artistic aspects. The publication is part of a more extensive series: the second volume, devoted to the Fontainebleau building site, will be published soon.
This work not only deepens our understanding of the creative processes of the 16th century but also bears witness to the contribution of USI Archivio del Moderno and its international partners in the study and enhancement of Europe’s architectural and artistic heritage.
The 16th-century construction sites in Rome: a project supported by the SNSF
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