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The Digital Piranesi
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About
The Digital Piranesi is a developing digital humanities project that aims to provide an enhanced digital edition of the works of Italian illustrator Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778).
Works and Volumes
Genres, Subjects, and Themes
Bibliography
Glossary and Abbreviations
Column Bases from the Old Basilica of Saint Paul
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Avery Freeman
b9edcb567e2471c9ec37caa50383522b90999cba
22849
2
Vetus Spira in Basilica Divi Pauli
plain
2021-09-24T14:25:47-07:00
Jeanne Britton
e120651dde677d5cf1fd515358b14d86eb289f11
This is sample text to determine potential display methods for our animations of Piranesi’s layered or composite images. These images include multiple layers of paper, stone, or other material arranged in ways that call attention to media and materiality in what are often some of his most technically specific images.
This page has paths:
1
2021-10-25T13:17:06-07:00
Jeanne Britton
e120651dde677d5cf1fd515358b14d86eb289f11
Layered Images
Jeanne Britton
5
plain
2022-05-30T12:12:03-07:00
Jeanne Britton
e120651dde677d5cf1fd515358b14d86eb289f11
Contents of this path:
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
The Outlet of the Cloaca Maxima into the Tiber
3
Ostium, sive Emissarium Cloacae Maximae in Tiberium
plain
2022-02-24T13:45:15-08:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Studies of the Substructure of the Capitoline Hill
4
Reliquiae Substructionum Capitolij
plain
2021-05-19T11:52:15-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Elevation of the ruins of the Beautiful Riverbank, with the outlet of the Cloaca Maxima
2
Orthographia reliquiarum Pulcri Litoris, cum ostio sive emissario Cloacae Maximae
plain
2021-09-24T14:15:57-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Section of the Emissarium at Lake Albano
3
Schemata Emissarii Lacus Albani
plain
2021-09-20T14:52:48-07:00
1
2018-03-23T15:26:09-07:00
On the Construction of the Tomb of Cecilia Metella
48
plain
2023-04-11T13:35:59-07:00
ornament, art, nature, travertine, tomb, engineering, reconstruction, imaginary
Title: Modo, col quale furono alzati i grossi Travertini, e gli altri Marmi nel fabbricare il gran Sepolcro di Cecilia Metella, oggi detto Capo di Bove. Piranesi Archit(ectus). Dis(egnavit). et inc(idit). Text: Visitando io tutto giorno i Monumenti antichi di Roma, ed investigando ogni loro benche minuta parte, scoprii in que’ grossi macigni, de’quali sono costruiti, dei buchi quadrati, escavati a bella posta: in alcuni d’essi nel mezzo del piano disopra, come A; in altri nel lato o destro, o sinistro, come B. Quanto al buco scavato nel mezzo del piano di sopra, è cosa manifesta, che serviva per alzare il sasso sin, dove aveasi a porre in opera, mediante uno Stromento di ferro C, (eccone ancora i suoi Profili D) chiamato da Vitr(uvi)o Forfice, da altri Ulivella, introdotto, ed incastrato nel buco stesso, come nello Spaccato E: quale Stromento in oggi pure si mette in pratica. Ma qual’uso potesse avere l’altro buco, scavato nel lato, a cui non vedeasi corrispondere altro buco nel lato opposto, ove aggrappare si potesse il macigno per sollevarlo, riuscivami affatto ignoto, ed oscuro; ne so che sia stato a quest’ora da veruno penetrato. Tralle rovine del Sepolcro di Cecilia Metella, detto Capo di bove, mi venero sotto gli occhi alcuni Framm(en)ti di grossi Travertini, F, G, i quali mi scopersero ciò, che per si lungo tempo, da che mi trovo in Roma, non mi venne fatto di comprendere. Il Framm(en)to F ha un rialto a guisa di Bozza, nella stessa pietra lasciato ad arte, segnato H et simile ad I. Il Framm(en)to G ha una bozza, ed un buco scavato in mezzo alla stessa, marcato K et simile ad L; il qual buco è fondo sino alla superficie del Lato M, e corrisponde direttam(en)te al buco del Lato opposto N. È verisimile, che questi due Travertini non sieno stati posti in opera, o per lo meno in que’ corsi, ond è formata la superficie esterna del Mausoleo; e ciò può essere accaduto, o per natural difetto della Pietra, scoperto dopo lavorata, o per mancanza dello Scarpellino: in fatti l’uno d’essi appare spezzato da un capo. Per tanto, siccome io penso, ecco brevem(en)te l’uso de’ predetti Buchi, e delle Bozze. Osserviamo nello Spaccato O la piegatura, e profondità de’ Buchi, et il modo, con cui sono introdotti in essi gli Uncini P, i quali equilibrando il Macigno Q per mezzo della Fune R congiunta a cappio, raccomandata alla Bozza I, indi passata sotto gli Uncini, e ripassata ancora sotto se medesima in S, qualora il peso dalla parte della bozza la costrignesse a trascorrere, mettono in pronto il detto Macigno, per esser tirato su, posto il cappio al rampino della Taglia T al sito destinato. Quivi nello stesso modo si può facilm(en)te muovere, e rimuovere quante volte richiede il bisogno, sinche egregiam(en)te connetti cogli altri marmi: indi lasciato posare tanto disgiunto, quanto si possa levare dal buco l’Uncino V colle Leve, o Pali di ferro spignesi accosto. Dopo di che lo Scarpellino taglia le bozze, e pareggia le superficie. X Uncini di ferro di varia grandezza. Y Funi, o Cappj di varia lunghezza. Z Dimostrasi la Macchina, mediante la quale alzavansi li grossi Macigni. 1 Due Travi proporzionate ai pesi, che doveansi alzare, piantate a piramide, e mobili sopra un Piano di grossi tavoloni di legno, concatenati insieme a foggia di telaro; legate da capo da un Perno di ferro segn(a)to al quale raccomandavasi la Taglia 3. Fermato il Piano de’ sudd(et)ti tavoloni, o sia Piede della Macchina ad alcuni Travertini, piantati quà, e là nel masso, per legare i corsi delle Scaglie; e data alle Travi sufficiente pendenza, e sporto fuori del Muro, sicchè possano ricevere comodam(en)te il Sasso 4 colle Funi 5 assicuravansi. Alzato il Sasso col mezzo della Fune 6 delle Taglie, 7, 8 e del Mulinello 9, sino al piano 10, tiravá(n)si medianti le Funi 11 le Travi per il capo indietro tanto, quanto il Sasso potesse posare sul detto Piano, ove usate le predette diligenze di farlo ben connettere univasi agli altri Sassi del Corso 12. Da ciò può dedursi, che gli Antichi sopra ogni cosa studiassero la facilità d’innalzare simili enormi Macigni, per costruire Fabbr(ich)e corrispond(en)ti alle loro grandi idee, e di perpetua durabilità, lasciandole tal volta rozze, e senza Ornam(en)to. In vero molte sene veggono di tal fatta, ma sì massiccie, e sode, che sembrano fatte più dalla Natura, che dall’Arte.
Title: The means by which the large Travertines and other Marble Blocks were lifted to build the grand tomb of Cecilia Metella, now called Capo di Bove. Designed and engraved by the Architect Piranesi. Text: Visiting the ancient monuments of Rome every day, and examining all their most minute parts, I discovered square holes in those giant stones, intentionally carved out, and in some of these stones, the holes were carved in the middle of upper level, as in A and in others in the side, on the right, or left, as in B. As for the hole carved in the middle of the upper section, it is clear that it served to raise the stone until the point where it is set through the Instrument made of iron C (and here they are additionally displayed in profile D) called by Vitruvius ‘Forfice,’ and by others ‘Ulivella,’ introduced, and inserted into the hole itself, as in the cross section E: an Instrument which is in fact still in use today. But what could have been the function of the other hole, carved in the side, to which I saw no other corresponding hole on the opposite side, where one could grab to lift the boulder, [but the purpose of the lateral hole] seems to me to be unknown, and obscure; nor do I know that anyone has understood its function to this day. Among the ruins of the Sepulcher of Cecilia Metella, called Capo di Bove, some fragments of large Travertines, F, G, appeared before my eyes, and they revealed what, for such a long time, I could never understand, since I have found myself in Rome. The Fragment, F has a raised part in the form of a Boss, in the same stone, the raised part is left deliberately, labeled H and similar to I. The fragment G has a projecting stone, and a hole carved in the middle of the same, marked K and similar to L; that hole is as deep as the surface of the Side M and corresponds directly to the hole on the other Side N. It is likely that these two Travertines were not set down, or at least in those courses where the outer surface of the Mausoleum was formed; and this may have happened, either due to a natural defect of the Stone, discovered after work had begun, or due to lack of the Chisel: in fact, one of them appears to be broken on one side. Therefore, as I see it, here is a brief description of the function of the aforementioned Holes, and of the projecting Stones. We observe, in the section O, the profile and depth of the Holes, and the way in which the grappling hooks P are inserted into them, which balance the large block of stone Q by means of a rope R knotted into a loop, which is fitted around the projecting stone I, from there passed under the grappling Hooks, and twisted under and around itself in S, in the case where the weight of the part of the projecting stone forces it to slide, they put the large rock in position, to be pulled up, [with the] the noose on the grappling hook of the Pulley T so as to position it in the desired place.There, in the same way one can easily move, and take away [the block] as many times as required, until it most nobly connects with the other blocks of marble:from there, one can leave it disjointed, as soon as the hook V is removed from the hole with the Levers, or iron Poles, pulling them together. After which the Chisel cuts the projecting stone, and evens out the sides. X iron Hooks of various size. Y Ropes, or Loops of various lengths. Z Demonstrates the Device by which the large blocks were raised. 1 Two beams proportioned to weights, that should be raised, hammered into the ground so as to form a pyramid, leveled on large pieces of wood, chained together in the shape of a loom; tied to the top of the iron Pivot labeled 2 to which the Pulley 3 is fitted. With the aforementioned large pieces of wood secured, that is the Base of the Device to some Beams, set here and there in the mass of the tomb, in order to join the courses of the Slings; and when the Beams are sufficiently inclined, and protruding out from the Wall, in such a way that they can comfortably hold the Rock 4 secured with the Ropes 5. The Rock lifted by means of the Ropes 6 of the Pulleys 7, 8 and of the Swivel 9 until the level 10 pulling it through the Ropes 11, the Beams with the top underneath, as far as the Rock can rest on the aforementioned Level, where the aforementioned diligences are used to make it connect in a unified way to the other Rocks of Course 12. From all of which one can deduce that the Ancients, above all things, studied how to raise similar enormous blocks in order to construct Buildings equal to their grand ideas and of everlasting durability, leaving them at the time rough and without Ornament. In truth, one can see many of them made in this way, but they are so massive, and so dense, that they seem to be made more by Nature, than by Art.
1
media/10 Title page cropped.jpg
2018-11-23T19:44:28-08:00
Field of Mars
27
Campus Martius Antiquae Urbis
image_header
2020-09-07T06:13:59-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Column Bases from the Old Basilica of Saint Paul
2
Vetus Spira in Basilica Divi Pauli
plain
2021-09-24T14:25:47-07:00
1
media/Page_69.jpg
2021-03-31T10:57:20-07:00
Avery Freeman
b9edcb567e2471c9ec37caa50383522b90999cba
On the Magnificence and Architecture of the Romans; Observations on the Letter of Monsieur Mariette
Jeanne Britton
6
image_header
2021-06-26T07:51:28-07:00
Jeanne Britton
e120651dde677d5cf1fd515358b14d86eb289f11
Contents of this path:
1
2021-03-31T10:51:42-07:00
Titlepage 1: On the Grandeur and Architecture of the Romans
1
IOANNIS BAPTISTAE PIRANESII ANTIQVARIORVM REGIAE SOCIETATIS LONDINENSIS SOCII DE ROMANORVM MAGNIFICENTIA ET ARCHITECTVRA ROMAE MDCLXI
2021-03-31T10:51:43-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Frontispiece: Portrait of Clement XIII
1
Clemens Decimustertius Pontifex Maximus Venetus
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Titlepage 2: On the Grandeur and Architecture of the Romans by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquarians of London
2
DELLA MAGNIFICENZA ED ARCHITETTVRA DE’ ROMANI OPERA DI GIO(VANNI) BATTISTA PIRANESI SOCIO DELLA REALE ACCADEMIA DEGLI ANTIQVARI DI LONDRA
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2021-06-13T10:05:33-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Studies of the Substructure of the Capitoline Hill
4
Reliquiae Substructionum Capitolij
plain
2021-05-19T11:52:15-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
The Outlet of the Cloaca Maxima into the Tiber
3
Ostium, sive Emissarium Cloacae Maximae in Tiberium
plain
2022-02-24T13:45:15-08:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Elevation of the ruins of the Beautiful Riverbank, with the outlet of the Cloaca Maxima
2
Orthographia reliquiarum Pulcri Litoris, cum ostio sive emissario Cloacae Maximae
plain
2021-09-24T14:15:57-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Projection of the Pedestal
1
Sciographia Stylobatae
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Various Moldings and Cornices
1
[Varie modanature e cornice]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Various Greek Columns Taken from Ancient Monuments
1
Variae in Architectura graecanica ratione ac symmetriae ex antiquis monumentis excerptae
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Various Capitals (1 of 3)
1
Capitulum angulare, repertum in Hortis Sallustianis, nunc Villa Verospia, anno MDCCLIV
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Various Fragments of Columns and a Bas-Relief
1
[Vari frammenti di colonne e bassorilievi]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Column Bases from the Old Basilica of Saint Paul
2
Vetus Spira in Basilica Divi Pauli
plain
2021-09-24T14:25:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Various Column Bases and Capitals
1
[Vari basi e capitelli di colonne]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Column Bases Compared with Illustrations from Le Roy
3
[Varie basi di colonne comparate con illustrazioni analoghe da Le Roy]
plain
2021-09-24T14:37:56-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Various Capitals (2 of 3)
1
Vari capitelli
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Various Capitals and Other Architectural Details
1
[Vari capitelli ed altri dettagli di ornato architettonico]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Various Capitals and Bas-Reliefs
1
[Vari capitelli e bassorilievi]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Various Capitals (3 of 3)
1
[Vari capitelli]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Various Capitals and a Column
1
[Vari capitelli ed una Colonna]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Capitals and Friezes Compared with Illustrations by Le Roy
1
[Vari capitelli ed ornati architettonici comparati con illustrazione de Le Roy]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Various Architectural Details (1 of 3)
1
[Varie mensole, fregi ed altri ornati architettonici]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Various Architectural Details (2 of 3)
1
[Varie trabeazioni, capitelli e frammenti ornamentali]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Roman Ionic Capitals Compared with Greek Examples from Le Roy
10
[Vari capitelli ionici romani comparati con i greci dalle illustrazioni di Le Roy]
plain
2023-06-05T10:56:56-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Comparative Pedestals
1
[Confronti di piedestalli]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
View and Elevation of the Temple of Concord in Agrigento
1
Scenographia reliquiarum aedis quae Concordiae asseritur, Agrigenti in Sicilia
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Three Diagrams of Doric Temple Construction (1 of 3)
1
[Tre diagrammi di struttura di tempio dorico]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Three Diagrams of Doric Temple Construction (2 of 2)
1
[Tre Diagrammi di struttura di tempio dorico]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
Three Diagrams and an Elevation of the Doric Temple
1
[Tre Diagrammi di struttura ed alzato di tempio dorico]
2021-03-31T10:51:47-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Three Diagrams of Doric Temple Construction (3 of 3)
1
[Tre diagrammi di struttura di tempio dorico]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Diagrams of Roof Structure in Doric Temple Construction
1
[Diagrammi di struttura di tetto in un tempio dorico]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Plan and Elevation of the Tuscan Temple after Vitruvius
1
Ichnographia et ortographia sacrae aedis Tuscanicae ex Vitruv(io)
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Elevations of the Tuscan Temple after Le Roy and Perrault
1
[Piante ed alzati del tempio tuscanico da Le Roy e Perrault]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Section of the Emissarium at Lake Albano
3
Schemata Emissarii Lacus Albani
plain
2021-09-20T14:52:48-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
Greek Columns Compared with Etruscan and Roman
1
[Confronti di colonne greche con esempi delle etrusche e romane]
2021-03-31T10:51:46-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Details of Various Greek Doric Temples (1 of 2)
2
[Piante, alzati e dettagli di vari tempi Greco dorici]
plain
2021-03-31T11:08:34-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Details of Various Greek Doric Temples (2 of 2)
2
[Piante, alzati e dettagli di vari tempi Greco dorici]
plain
2021-03-31T11:08:37-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Details of the Erechtheion, Athens, after Le Roy
1
[Piante, alzati e dettagli dell’Eretto da Le Roy]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Roman architectural details compared with Greek examples from Le Roy
1
[Dettagli architettonici romani comparati con esempi greci de Le Roy]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Plan showing the location of the Circus Maximus
1
[Pianta topografica del Circo Massimo]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
Details of the construction of an entrance porch to a Tuscan temple
1
[Dettagli della struttura del pronao di un tempio tuscanico]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00
1
2021-03-31T10:51:44-07:00
Various architectural details (3 of 3)
1
[Vari dettagli architettonici]
2021-03-31T10:51:45-07:00