Unearthing the PastbyLeonard Barkan

The Arch of Septimius SeverusThe Arch of Septimius Severus Built in 203 For victories

over the Parthians

Built in 203 For victories

over the Parthians

Excavated by Pope Pius VII in 1833Excavated by Pope Pius VII in 1833

The Arch of Septimius Severus

debris and detritusfrom more than a

thousand years

Torso Belvedere

Torso Belvedere

Unearthed in the 1430s

Early 1500s before it was recognized as a valuable work

Unearthed in the 1430s

Early 1500s before it was recognized as a valuable work

Torso Belvedere

Torso Belvedere

Sculptor: Apollonios, son of Nestor

Sculptor: Apollonios, son of Nestor

TiberTiberUnearthed 1440sRe-interredUnearthed again in 1512

Apollo BelvedereApollo Belvedere

Unearthed 1490 Vatican

Museum

Unearthed 1490 Vatican

Museum

The OthersThe Others

“A trove of statues” were unearthed in September 1514.

These depicted various wounded and dead soldiers.

“A trove of statues” were unearthed in September 1514.

These depicted various wounded and dead soldiers.

Two other [much copied] statues, however, not unearthedRome’s otherpopulation

Two other [much copied] statues, however, not unearthedRome’s otherpopulation

Left is the Sleeping Ariadne

To the right is the Marble Faun by Praxiteles

Left is the Sleeping Ariadne

To the right is the Marble Faun by Praxiteles

The Knowledge of Art History

The Knowledge of Art History

Pliny (23 AD to August 25, 79)

Wrote Naturalis Historia

Died in Mt. Vesuvius eruption

Pliny (23 AD to August 25, 79)

Wrote Naturalis Historia

Died in Mt. Vesuvius eruption

Mt. Vesuvius EruptionArtist’s rendering

Mt. Vesuvius EruptionArtist’s rendering

Actual View

Other writers that were influenced by Pliny and that influenced the arrival of the

Renaissance

Other writers that were influenced by Pliny and that influenced the arrival of the

Renaissance Petrarch (1304) Ghiberti (1378) Alberti (1404) Landino (1424) Vasari (1511)

Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects

Petrarch (1304) Ghiberti (1378) Alberti (1404) Landino (1424) Vasari (1511)

Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects

Of the Unearthed, the Greatest:

Laocoön

“..superior toany painting

and anybronze”

- Pliny

Of the Unearthed, the Greatest:

Laocoön

“..superior toany painting

and anybronze”

- Pliny

Unearthing the LaocoönUnearthing the Laocoön Unearthed

January 14, 1506 Recognized by

the famous architect, Giuliano da Sangallo

Also there were his son, Francesco, and Michelangelo

Unearthed January 14, 1506

Recognized by the famous architect, Giuliano da Sangallo

Also there were his son, Francesco, and Michelangelo

Laocoön’s beginningsLaocoön’s beginnings

Pliny(improbably)attributed the workto three sculptorsworking together:Agesander, Athenodoros and Polydorus

Pliny(improbably)attributed the workto three sculptorsworking together:Agesander, Athenodoros and Polydorus

Art and LanguageArt and Language

Ekphrases [The stories behind and descriptions of the artwork]

andTropes [The use of parts or

poses of the artwork to represent the prior ekphrases in a future artwork]

Ekphrases [The stories behind and descriptions of the artwork]

andTropes [The use of parts or

poses of the artwork to represent the prior ekphrases in a future artwork]

Ekphrasis of the Laocoön

Ekphrasis of the Laocoön

The sculpture shows the Trojanpriest Laocoön and his sonsAntiphantes and Thymbraeusbeing strangled by sea serpents. Laocoön was killed after attempting to expose the ruse of the Trojan Horse by striking it with a spear. The snakes were sent by Athena, and were interpreted by theTrojans as proof that the horse was a sacred

object. Which, of course, meant doom for the city.

The sculpture shows the Trojanpriest Laocoön and his sonsAntiphantes and Thymbraeusbeing strangled by sea serpents. Laocoön was killed after attempting to expose the ruse of the Trojan Horse by striking it with a spear. The snakes were sent by Athena, and were interpreted by theTrojans as proof that the horse was a sacred

object. Which, of course, meant doom for the city.

TropesTropes

Signs Signifier Signified

Deconstruction

Signs Signifier Signified

Deconstruction

FragmentsConnecting to the past

FragmentsConnecting to the past

Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to finish the Torso Belvedere and the Laocoön.

Michelangelo refused. They are beautiful just the way they

are. Several of the works of Michelangelo

are unfinished or defaced by him.

Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to finish the Torso Belvedere and the Laocoön.

Michelangelo refused. They are beautiful just the way they

are. Several of the works of Michelangelo

are unfinished or defaced by him.

Other FragmentsOther Fragments

Pasquino - unearthed in April, 1501Pasquino - unearthed in April, 1501

Reconstructionsof the Laocoön

Reconstructionsof the Laocoön

1510 Donato Bramante and Raphael run a contest.

The winner was Jacopo Sansovino. Baccio Bandinelli creates replica

and does another arm. 1532 Montorsoli executed an arm. 1540 Could have been

Michelangelo.

1510 Donato Bramante and Raphael run a contest.

The winner was Jacopo Sansovino. Baccio Bandinelli creates replica

and does another arm. 1532 Montorsoli executed an arm. 1540 Could have been

Michelangelo.

Other ReconstructionsOther ReconstructionsPasquino immediately became a place where dissentcould be posted anonymously. Messages are usuallywritten in first-person. Attimes the statue is dressedfor festivalsor to representthe target ofthe dissent.This is stilldone today.

Re-assimilationsRe-assimilations