Title The ruin of the Eternal City : antiquity and preservation in Renaissance Rome / David Karmon

Published New York : Oxford University Press, ©2011

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Description 1 online resource (ix, 320 pages) : illustrations Contents Preservation practices in ancient and medieval Rome -- Inventing a preservation program in fifteenth-century Rome -- A sixteenth-century meteor in the Roman Forum -- The Colosseum -- The Pantheon -- The Ponte Santa Maria -- Conclusion: Rethinking preservation practices in Renaissance Rome -- Appendix of archival documents Summary In Renaissance Rome, ancient ruins were preserved as often as they were mined for their materials. Although the question of what to preserve and how continued to be subject to debate, preservation acquired renewed force and urgency as the new papal capital rose upon the ruins of the ancient city. Preservation practices became more focused and effective in Renaissance Rome than ever before. This book offers a new interpretation of the ongoing life of ancient buildings within the expanding early modern city. While historians and archaeologists have long affirmed that early modern builders disregarded the protection of antiquity, this study provides the first systematic analysis of preservation problems as perceived by the Renaissance popes, the civic magistrates, and ordinary citizens. Drawing on new evidence, this compelling study explores how civic officials balanced the defense of specific sites against the pressing demands imposed by population growth, circulation, and notions of urban decorum. Above all, the preservation of antiquity remained an indispensable tool to advance competing political agendas in the papal capital. A broad range of preservation policies and practices are examined at the half-ruined Colosseum, the intact Pantheon, and the little-known but essential Renaissance bridge known as the Ponte Santa Maria. Rome has always incorporated change in light of its glorious past as well as in the more pragmatic context of contemporary development. This investigation not only reveals the complexity of preservation as a contested practice, but also challenges us to rethink the way people in the past understood history itself Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-306) and index Notes Print version record Subject Renaissance -- Italy -- Rome Historic preservation -- Italy -- Rome -- History -- To 1500 Historic preservation -- Italy -- Rome -- History -- 16th century Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Italy -- Rome BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Infrastructure. SOCIAL SCIENCE -- General. Antiquities Antiquities -- Collection and preservation Buildings Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration Historic preservation Renaissance Arkitektur -- Italien -- Rom -- renässansen. Arkitektur -- bevarande och restaurering -- Rom. SUBJECT Rome (Italy) -- Antiquities. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85115189 Rome (Italy) -- Antiquities -- Collection and preservation Rome (Italy) -- Buildings, structures, etc Subject Italy -- Rome Genre/Form History Form Electronic book ISBN 9780199896745 0199896747 9780199877461 0199877467

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