30 May 1778 Saturday
Piranesi is becoming more and more confident that he, apparently before anyone else even, made a 'history changing' discovery in the precisely off-kilter plan formation of the Circus of Caracalla.
It won't be long before Piranesi starts wondering how to best go about correcting history.
32 y.o. Francesco Piranesi 1 August 1790
Raccolta de'Tempj antichi, Vol. II.
Plan of the present state of the Pantheon of Marcus Agrippa now commonly known as the Rotunda
A. Modern steps around the Pronaos or Portico B. New cortello brick floor. C Modern pillars adorning the main altar. Li pedestals of the Edicule. D. were interrupted in E. by turning the cymatium to introduce the tables of the altars F. Leftovers from the Baths of Agrippa.
Cav. Franco Piranesi drawn and engraved
30 May 1812 Saturday
Morning thick fog, temperature 56°. I expect company, about 12 Dr. Logan came soon after the gentleman of the Russian Legation and Consulate, afterwards M M. Dashkoff, Francis Rotch and T. Biddle. We had a sociable dinner and conversation. They left us after coffee. Therm. rose to 82°.
30 May 2003
Re: blind, without imagery
I wonder how much more elegant North, Central, and South America were in the millennia prior to 1492.
Is progress really just another word for ongoing discontent?
Then again, what if ongoing contentment is what real progress is all about?
30 May 2013
Hitler's Classical Architect
tammuz x, I agree that 'ominous' and 'sinister' are not easy frameworks, but I do see such characteristics within aspects of Speer's architecture. In line with the elegant, there is also an extremism. For example, and using the Vitruvian formula, there is extreme firmness where even the commodity is rendered firm, and, at the same time, there is an extreme lack of delight (unless one delights in the extreme lack of delight). This particular unbalanced combination manifests the ominous and the sinister. Hence, paradoxical is also a word I'd use to frame an analysis of the architecture of Albert Speer.
I remember when I first saw Rossi's drawings for the Modena Cemetery that I felt there was something 'sinister' about the design.
Coincidentally, I'm just starting to read Spectacles of Death in Ancient Rome where the back cover asks the question: How could civilized Romans enjoy watching the killing of gladiators, criminals, captives, Christian's and beasts?
30 May 2017
Virtual Painting 418
Virtual Painting 423
30 May 2020
30 May 2022 Monday
Before we start getting my brother out of bed, I tell JP that I discovered a third Piranesi engraving that's been printed in two different versions. Later, I tell JP I'm writing an email to Cynthia Davidson. My dedication to The Discovery of Piranesi's Final Project starts now, and JP becomes the only real witness to it all.
30 May 2023 Tuesday
I get the feeling that diplomat Dashkoff, or, more probably his wife, actually knew Hélène Gregoroffsky.
I've been meaning to start writing about the new stuff I've learned over the last year of "discovery." For example, the first Russian diplomat to the United States of America was here, right where I am right now, today in 1812. And I know he's already coming back here 20 June 1812. The diplomat and his wife, actually--both times.
I wonder if I might go to Moscow later this year. I'm pretty sure I'd go if I could, but it also seems likely there are risks involved. Or maybe this is really all in some other life.
My brother and I used to play Risk a lot when we were kids.
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