XIII. Pantheon, Colosseum, and Temple of Hercules Victor

XIII. Pantheon, Colosseum, and Temple of Hercules Victor

i. Pantheon, 3-1/2”h., c 1870’s, ; tinted Volterran alabaster ii. Colosseum, 4”h., c 1870’s, ; colorful Volteran alabaster iii. Temple of Hercules Victor, 3-1/2”h., c 1870’s,Volterran alabaster

See Pricing While we think of ancient Roman monuments as immutable, many have changed, some not so long ago. Occasionally, these differences help us date their souvenirs. In the 17th century, a pair of bell towers was added to the front of the Pantheon. Unloved, they came to be known as the “asses ears”, their design attributed to Bernini. (In fact, their architect was Carlo Maderno.) In 1883, or 1892, or the 1870s, depending upon which history we believe, they were removed.

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This carefully rendered, souvenir likeness of the Pantheon is without bell towers, and our first instinct would be to date it after 1883, or after 1892, or after the 1870’s, depending upon which history we believe. However, this model, owing to its materials – color-tinted alabaster from Volterra – almost certainly dates to the 1870’s. We’ve not seen any 19th century stone model of the building including the twin towers (there are examples in bronze); perhaps they proved difficult to carve. Bernini did play a role with the Pantheon, though, directing the removal of ancient bronze coffering from the underside of the porch for his baldacchino at St. Peter’s. About this vandalism, Bernini apologists demur. Rome’s greatest baroque designer also employed material from the Colosseum, a building operated by the Papacy as a quarry (for a thousand years!), The immense structure we see today is barely one- third its original size. Where did Bernini obtain the travertine for his colonnade at St. Peter’s? Don’t ask.

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