Andrea Romano Sposato

PhD candidate, Sapienza Università di Roma, Dipartimento di Storia, Disegno e Restauro dell’Architettura [Department of History, Drawing and Restoration of Architecture], Rome, Italy.

Andrea Romano Sposato is currently a PhD candidate at Sapienza University of Rome in the Department of History, Drawing, and Restoration of Architecture, within the history of architecture curriculum. He previously completed his master’s degree at Iuav University in Venice, under the supervision of Professors Monica Centanni and Sara Marini. His master’s thesis focused on the Venetian Lagoon and its representation in 16th-century cartographies and texts. Prior to commencing his doctoral studies, he worked as a licensed architect at Studio Fuksas in Rome, where his work spanned from prototyping to large-scale designs. He is currently engaged in the preparation of his doctoral dissertation, which addresses the construction of the quadriportico of Saint Peter’s Basilica between the 15th and 16th centuries with the guidance of Professor Flaminia Bardati. At the same time, he assists the professor in teaching courses on Modern Architectural History (third year) and Contemporary Architecture (first year) at Sapienza University.

Reading St. Peter’s Basilica. Truth and Reconstruction

Keywords: text, document, archetype, building, plan.

Abstract: The narrative surrounding San Pietro has been subject to extensive scholarly scrutiny, offering diverse interpretations through its rich history of graphical and literary dissemination. This intertwining of architecture and text extends the philological concept of an “original” text to architectural entities, prompting critical assessments of individual projects and their alignment with original intentions. This reflection suggests that architecture, like textual narratives, can embody idealized representations. At the heart of San Pietro’s construction narrative are two central figures: Michelangelo Buonarroti, advocate of the seminal design proposal, and Tiberio Alfarano, historian striving to immortalize the imagery of the antique basilica amid demolition. Michelangelo’s pursuit of architectural authenticity contrasts with Alfarano’s endeavor to reconstruct the lost narrative of the former San Pietro, reflecting an interplay between historical retrospection and forward-thinking design. San Pietro serves as a historical exemplar, illustrating how architectural truth is established retrospectively and prospectively, shaping historiography through graphical and textual mediums. This discourse underscores two key tenets: the tangible benchmark of actualized architecture versus the potential of future realizations, and the challenge of reconstructing demolished history amidst fragmented narratives. In the endeavor to reconstruct the Basilica of San Pietro, scholars must navigate a multitude of sources spanning temporal progression, confronting fundamental questions about architectural historiography, demonstrating the need of symbiotic relationship between truth and dynamism in understanding and interpreting architectural heritage.

Read the article in the print version or soon on the website.

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