18 March 1778 Wednesday
Vases, Candelabra, Grave Stones, Sarcophagi. Tripods, Lamps and Ancient Ornaments volume II
To Mr. Cavaliere Enrico Blundell Lover of the Fine Arts
In Act of Obsequiousness Cav. Gio. Batt(ist)a Piranesi D. D. D.
Antique marble vase loosely decorated with intertwined ivy stems and various playful birds. All around there are eight different scenic masks, and other ornaments. It can be seen in the Cavalier Piranesi Museum.
Cavalier Piranesi delin. ed inc.
24-25 y.o. Francesco Piranesi 1783
Il teatro di Ercolano
Icnography of the first precinsion of the theater, of the orchestra with its steps, and of the pulpit, of the scene, and its parts
A. Stairs, which from the level of the Portici ascend to the corridor of communication to the first and second precinct of the Gradini, and to the top of the Theatre. B. Said runner. C. Arched rooms, which form the second external order of the Theater, and serve as a support for the second precinct of the steps. D. Doors in said compartments, through which the light is introduced into the aforesaid Corridor. E. Stairs in said rooms, which go up to the second precinct. F. Other Stairs to climb to the shelf above said rooms G. Vomitorj, to descend the Steps of the first precinct. H. Stairs of the same, which form the Wedges of the aforementioned precinct. I. Steps or Wedges, which were covered by Subselli, or wooden Seats for the Spectators of the first precinct of which the two upper ones are interrupted by the level of the Vomitorj, and the lower one is less wide than the others, this served only as a supedaneum . K. Tribunals, or places intended for Magistrates, and for Praetors, and Proconsuls. Here the bronze folding chairs, which can be seen in the Museum of Portici, were found. These loggias with the entrances subjected to the Orchestra interrupt the semicircular continuation of most of the steps, and move the ladders of the first wedges away from the horns of the hemicycle, making them parallel to the straight line of the pulpit and the scene; for which all the others being divided in equal distance, are not directed to the center of the semicircle, in reserve of the one in the middle. L. Precinction with Podium in front of the Orchestra. M. Orchestra. N. Lower steps in it for the portable chairs of the Nobili O. O.Pulpit of the Scene paved with wood above which the Scenic Games were represented. P. Labro on the end of the pulpit with a floor of white marble slabs, which covered the underlying niches. Q. Steps, which descended from the Pulpit into the Orchestra. R. Scene decorated with columns, niches for the Statues, with Doors, Prosceniums, Vestiars, Porticos, and other adjacent parts indicated in the previous Table. S. Scale with transit à Tribunali, supported by a wooden Solaro, which partitioned the arches of Proscenj. T. Doors with Steps, which lead down to the Tribunals of a lower floor to the aforesaid transit.
Francesco Piranesi, drawn and engraved.
18 March 1812 Wednesday
Morning without a cloud, wind NW, cold. Spent the forenoon downtown, delivered a paper to William Lewis and the originals[?] sent to the referee. Dines at SL's left town about 4 and reached home about six bringing with me Lydia who has been in town near 4 weeks. Therm. here AM 34° rose to 37°. The snow at Quebec[?] in the lower[?] town is up to the ..... of the first story and they got out of the upper window.
18 March 2004
Campo Marzio discoveries
1. the Sepulc. Viunij Valentis is on the Tiber next to the Gymnasium Neronis, which led me to wonder if the Gymnasium Neronis, follows the circle/square juncture pattern; it looks like it does.
2. the circle/square Porticus Neronianae marks the spot of Alaric's Visigoth camp prior to the (primal) break-in at the Porta Salaria. The 45 degree marks of the Porticus Neronianae marks the four cardinal points. Since the compass of the Ichnographia matches the center of the Porticus Neronianae in size, perhaps Piranesi is here indicating the spot where the "winds" shifted--the historical winds. I now know how the Nolli map corresponds with the Campo Marzio area of the Celian Hill/Horti Salustiani. Platner provides an interesting history of the "Domus Valerianus"--nobody bought it in 404 AD; it sold for almost nothing after Alaric 410 AD; it appears to have become a hospital (which makes sense with regard to Melania's mission.
Thermantia and Melania
As much as Melania and Maria were (are) best friends, it was Thermatica that actually followed and stayed with Melania and Paulo until her young end. I never expected to see Thermantia come right out of obscurity. All these women were greatly effected by the Empress role model of Helena (and Eutropia). It is easy to imagine their pilgrimages throughout Rome and the Empire.
18 March 2005
did any artists make reservations?
Tertullian and John the Baptist Piranesi are looking forward to presenting "De Spectaculis II" at Leaving Obscurity Behind, the 2005 Horace Trumbauer Architecture Fan Club Convention, on 14 May 2005 in honor of the 14 May 1999 discovery of the two states of the Ichnographia Campus Martius by an outsider.
"De Spectaculis II" will also correct all the mistakes and crafty omissions made by David R. Marshall within "Piranesi, Javarra, and the Triumphal Bridge Tradition" (in The Art Bulletin, a quarterly published by the College Art Association, June 2003). Tertullian and Piranesi love it when peer-reviewed academics publish stupid mistakes.
And don't forget the forthcoming presentations of "The Marriage of Twisted and Column" by Eutropia and Rubens, and "Nudist Camp at the Philadelphia Museum of Art" by Duchamp and Jennewein on 20 March 2005. By the looks of it, be prepared for standing room only.
18 March 2019
Mary Boone's 180 hours of community service hour 33
18 March 2023 Saturday
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