Cartography, Engineering, and Antiquity in Late Sixteenth-Century Rome

• In Event: Interpreting the Antique 1500–1675 III: The Antiquarians and the Antique

Abstract

This paper points to the deep connections between antiquarianism, cartography, and urban reconstruction in late sixteenth century Rome. It focuses on the antiquarian Bartolomeo Marliani and the those around him, on Agostino Steuco, Vatican Librarian and his search for the course of the Acqua Vergine, on Pirro Ligorio, his disputes with antiquarians and his opinions about aqueduct reconstruction, and on (Étienne) Stefano Dupérac, an engraver who aspired to greater things and who created maps of both ancient and contemporary Rome. These figures were part of a culture that was remaking Rome in its ancient image as it was also re-imagining the city, with much competition and many arguments along the way.

Author

• Pamela O. Long, Independent Scholar