Online-Vortrag
Prof. Dr. Jessica Maier (Mt. Holyoke)
Tempesta’s Rome Recut: Renewing an Urban Icon
In 1662, Roman editore Giovanni Giacomo de’ Rossi published an updated version of Antonio Tempesta’s famous 1593 bird’s-eye view of Rome. In many ways, this move was standard practice: important images of the city were commonly copied or reprinted, and Tempesta’s view had defined an era by showcasing the radical urban changes of Sixtus V and earlier Renaissance popes. Many imitations appeared in the decades after Tempesta’s original, and the plates were reprinted in 1606, 1645, and 1648. De’ Rossi’s version of 1662 is usually grouped with these incrementally revised restrikes, but close inspection reveals it was actually printed from new plates: an audacious, risky, and altogether mystifying choice. This talk will situate De’ Rossi’s remake—which he declared “recut, embellished, and enlarged” (rintagliato, abbellito ed accresciutto)—in the context of interfamilial feuds as well as the cut-throat world of Roman publishers seeking novel ways to hitch their own reputations to that of their city. Among other challenges, they had to package Rome’s shape-shifting identity for an increasingly international market, while also catering to local patrons and protectors. Ultimately, the significance of Tempesta’s image transcends any original author and moment. Its complex afterlife suggests a web of competing interests, as well as a cycle of decline and renewal, much like the contested history of the city it commemorated.
Der Vortrag von Frau Prof. Dr. Jessica Maier findet nur online sowie in englischer Sprache statt.
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