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It is difficult to appreciate the scale of this magnificent College which occupies a significant site in the centre of Rome, close to the Spanish Steps. The surrounding streets offer only high brick walls punctuated by openings for a public car park. On the narrow Via Degli Artisti the wall ends in railings behind which the baroque facade of a church rises above the entrance garden and steps, signifying the public entrance to the College. The facade of the church, dating from 1704, following earthquake damage to the original, contains two sculptures representing St. Isidore and St. Patrick. On entering the building one realises that these figures of the Spanish Patron Saint of Agriculture and the Irish Patron Saint also reflect the historical development and architectural form of the complex.
St Isidore’s Irish Franciscan College, Rome.
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The contents of the Library and Archives of Saint Isidore's in Rome are of immense value and historical importance.
When the Irish Franciscan friar, Luke Wadding, arrived in Rome from Spain he found a group of Spanish friars had already established a small friary dedicated to St. Isidore of Madrid on the present site. The Spanish friars vacated the property early in 1625 and Wadding, who was also instrumental in establishing the pontifical college (1628), established a centre for training friars from the Irish province with the official Bull of Foundation issued by Pope Urban VIII in October 1625. It was clear that the Spanish cloister would not be adequate for the numbers of Irish friars and work began on a much larger cloister, the Wadding Cloister, linked to the original. While the Spanish Cloister was small with the only opening to the air surrounding a stone well head, the Wadding Cloister was designed on a much grander scale. The large courtyard is shaded by orange trees, the thud of overripe fruit falling on the paving warning of a health and safety risk not generally found on Irish sites. On all sides a vaulted cloister is complemented by an extensive series of frescoes added at the beginning of the 18th century by a Franciscan
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brother. Overlooked by terraces and dormitory windows, this cloister connects Church and sacristy with the refectory, a vaulted hall decorated with canvases showing Irish Franciscan friaries, and the Aula Maxima or Theological Hall, completed after Luke Wadding’s death in 1657 and decorated to pay tribute to him and his companions. In a corner of the cloister next to the church a stone staircase leads to the upper floors. Located at first floor level, over the Aula Maxima, is one of the finest rooms of the College, the main Library. The contents of the Library and Archives of Saint Isidore's in Rome are of immense value and historical importance. Wadding, even before he founded the College of Saint Isidore's, had been commissioned to represent in Rome the court of the Kings of Spain on matters concerning the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and had also been asked by the Minister General to work on a history of the Order from the time of Saint Francis to 1600. For these reasons he had in his possession a large amount of important works, including Papal Bulls and early manuscripts, either
theological or historical in nature. When the College was established it quickly became a centre for studies, especially on the scholastic theology of John Duns Scotus. Again a large (for the time) collection of works was collected and many published. The friars were also interested in Irish language and history, and wrote on these topics. Luke Wadding's correspondence on many matters, including Irish current affairs (of the 17th century) has been retained in the archive. Among the collections are a manuscript copy of Tertullian's Apologeticum dating from the 10th century (the oldest book in the collection), papal bulls (possibly 70) dating from the 13th century onwards, and over fifty incunabula, books printed within 50 years of the invention of the printing press. Many of these items are stored in separate archive rooms in an adjoining tower. From the flat roof of this tower the full extent of the College can be appreciated. Both cloisters are set in an extensive garden, high above street level with discreet air vents around the
boundaries signifying the car park recently excavated below the garden. Extensive tiled roofs and terraces, spalling and cracked plasterwork and defective flashings and coping pointed to some of the problems evident below. In the Library, water from above was already damaging ceilings and cornices and threatening the books. More water damage was evident on the terraces where plasterwork was detaching from the underside of ceilings above. Added to these concerns there were worrying cracks evident in the plaster to the walls and masonry vaulting. In 2002 the Government , through the OPW, provided a grant of s1.27 million for refurbishment work at the College. A team was established comprising representatives from Project Management, Architectural, Engineering and Quantity Surveying Services. The initial task for the team was to identify the priorities for attention and define which elements taken together would form a comprehensive and cost-effective initial phase of works. The roof and terrace problems would require removal of the contents of the library and extensive
scaffolding and propping. The supervising architect for that area of Rome from the Ministry of Culture had previously been involved in a programme of restoration on the Church. Paola Santilli proved to be of great assistance in the choice of suitably qualified architects and contractors for the specialist work required and in advising on necessary permissions and approvals. Her ongoing involvement in the course of the contract preparation stage and during construction were also immensely helpful. This positive approach allowed elements which could not be fully detailed or quantified without investigative opening up to be subject to agreement and approval during the course of the works. With the appointment by the Franciscan Community of a specialist conservation architect, detailed survey work and proposals for intervention could commence. These included renewal of the roof covering together with structural repairs necessary to trusses, rafters and purlins, the consolidation of plaster and decoration to the Library ceiling and cornice, restoration of the facades of the Library block and archive tower and retiling and OBAIR 7
The initial task for the team was to identify the priorities for attention and define which elements would form a comprehensive and cost-effective initial phase of works.
weatherproofing of the upper terraces. Basic documentation for construction tendering proved to be the opposite of that applying in the Irish Construction industry. While the specification clauses, even for the most detailed restoration work, were based on a nationally agreed template, the contract was drawn up in a bespoke manner. This allowed the OPW to ensure that concerns about insuring and safeguarding the building and the client’s interest were reflected in the contract details and agreed with the contractor at tender stage. The lawyers representing the Franciscan Order were experienced in international contract work from their wider client base and were able to draft a contract which met both Italian and Irish concerns. In restoring the Library and Archives a unique opportunity was created by the necessary removal of all the books. Not only could the entire collection (and bookshelves) be treated for any harmful organisms, but the environment and safety of the collection could be addressed. Fire detection, fire suppression and air conditioning systems were considered,
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in tandem with renewal of lighting and power services. The location and routes for all systems were carefully considered as the Supervising Architect from the Ministry of Culture took a very direct interest in all such works, limiting opes and totally banning all chases in plasterwork. The policy of allowing surface mounted services rather than chases proved well advised, given the extent of decorative schemes hidden by later repainting discovered during the work. Work commenced at the end of November 2002 based on a twelve month programme. A complete overroof was provided to the Library Tower and terraces ensuring no water penetration during the course of the work. All original tiles were carefully removed from the roof, rafters, purlins and trusses examined and repaired and the ceiling propped and resupported. Under careful supervision and in consultation with the OPW, all cracks were investigated on walls and vaulting. Most were repaired using simple brick stitching but the end gable of the Library required more serious intervention. The floor of the last bay of vaulting to the Aula Maxima below
was removed down to the top surface and a composite slab was created using reinforced concrete with additional steel ties into the masonry sidewalls. Stainless steel bars were drilled from the exterior of the gable elevation through to the reinforced vaulting thereby tying the gable wall to the main structure. The terrace roof of the Archive Tower was strengthened and corners tied. All terraces were waterproofed and retiled. All external fabric was examined and recent cement-based renders removed. Detached original plaster, both to flat wall areas and raised window architraves, was carefully stitched to the masonry behind. Windows and frames were also renovated as required. Meanwhile the roof was relaid on the Library but this time incorporating a waterproof membrane in the construction. With work completed on the roof and walls, the fine conservation work on the ceiling decoration could commence. Tests on the wooden cornice had revealed earlier decoration and all later paint was painstakingly removed. All services, fire prevention measures and smoke detection were installed.
Bookcases were treated, cleaned and restored, ready for the return of the Library collection. Two aspects of the contract and construction works were of particular interest in our role of monitoring the project to ensure appropriate and cost effective expenditure of the grant from the Irish Government. The first was the efficiency of the Italian contractor in carrying out work which ranged from large-scale engineering interventions to fine decorative conservation. Access to the site was limited because of the nature of the topography and the adjoining buildings. In addition, the College continued to be occupied during the course of the works and site access and working areas were further obstructed by an ongoing restoration project by a local conservation school on the wall frescoes of the cloisters. It was very interesting to note how easily the contractor integrated not only his own specialist conservators into a tight construction programme but also facilitated other ongoing conservation. It was notable how well the site was maintained and this encouraged care by the workers. Another feature related to the effect on the overall cost
of specialist works of consolidation, historic fabric repair and conservation of decorative elements. In the Irish context such work attracts premium rates, but the Italian architect and the contractor agreed detailed costings of all these elements at very competitive rates. One of the benefits of a detailed national specification was that the architect had a reasonable guide to what individual specialist rates should be and was therefore able to keep the overall contract figure within budget. As this specialist work is common in the Italian context there is clearly greater competition and consequent savings to the client. Construction work was completed within budget in November of 2003 and the Library collection is returning to a more secure and stable environment. Much work remains to be done on other areas of the College but it is wonderful to see such an important and unique part of Irish historical and literary heritage secured. JOHN J. CAHILL Conservation Architect, Architectural Services OBAIR 9