Assembling Ancient Rome: Teams from the Universities of Pisa, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and CNR-ICCOM reveal the secrets of Roman architects and sculptors
Carried out in collaboration with the National Roman Museum, thanks to PRIN (Projects of Relevant National Interest) funding, the research investigates the technologies and materials used to assemble, secure, and restore statues and other marble works in ancient Rome. The investigation is made possible by the exceptionally diverse collections held at the National Roman Museum’s various locations. The first campaign allowed scholars from Pisa and Venice to examine exceptional works, including the Discobolus of Castel Porziano, the Sleeping Hermaphroditus, and numerous portraits from the Imperial Age. The architectural repertoire includes hundreds of artifacts, including columns, capitals, and entablature elements, many of which retain traces of the construction techniques used.
“For the first time,” comment Anna Anguissola and Luigi Sperti, professors of Greek and Roman archaeology at the universities of Pisa and Ca’ Foscari, respectively, “techniques such as working in separate parts and assemblies are the subject of a wide-ranging initiative, integrating the expertise of various institutions and scholars. The sculptural and architectural heritage we can investigate thanks to the collaboration with the National Roman Museum represents a diverse and extremely important case study, as it allows us to delve into the heart of ancient Rome.”
A central element of the project is the archaeometric analysis carried out by the CNR-ICCOM team in Pisa: Stefano Legnaioli explains how “using tools such as XRF, we will be able to build an initial database of the pins used by Roman sculptors, architects, and restorers and investigate their archaeological aspects thanks to new data.”
“For the National Roman Museum, this project is of great interest because better understanding the technical aspects is essential to ensuring the best conservation of the works and to restoring our heritage to the public in all its complexity,” concludes the museum’s director, Federica Rinaldi.
Museo Nazionale Romano. Photo: Myriam Pilutti Namer.