M O D E L S
In the XVIII century
it became fashionable for the rich to collect models of buildings, ruins and famous monuments,
made of wood or cork. This craft, that originated in Naples in the XVI century with the
scenarios of the cribs, developed to the benefit of wealthy collectors and travelers who
only then had started to consider old ruins interesting and romantic.
In 1778 the
architect Thomas Hardwick had a model built by the Neapolitan master Giovanni Altieri, in
scale 1:120, to exhibit at the Society of Antiquaries as a complement to the study he had
made on the amphitheatre. Hardwick made some drawings, which we still have, but the model
has been lost. There is also evidence of another model being made in 1789, based on the
measurements carried out by the French architect Antoine Désgodetz (1653-1728). The same
Désgodetz drawings were used by Antonio Chiti for the models that he sold all round
Europe; two of these models of the Colosseum are still in Kassel and Darmstadt.
The most famous model of the Colosseum is without any doubt the wooden reconstruction
by Carlo Lucangeli (right). Lucangeli worked on it for 22 years,
starting in 1790. He was the one who undertook the first scientific survey of the
Colosseum in order to identify the architectural details. His studies led to the discovery
of hidden parts of the monument, like the wall of the retropodio and the so-called
Passaggio di Commodo.
Lucangeli's notes were published after his death and circulated
among the intellectuals, becoming one of the main sources of knowledge about the
Colosseum. Between 1792 and 1805 Lucangeli had completed another cork model of "the
actual state" of the Colosseum, which is now in Paris, at the École des Beaux-Arts.
When Lucangeli died in 1812 the first wooden model still wasn't finished; it was completed
only in 1815 by his son-in-law Paolo Dalbono and other artists. They added to it the ipogei
of the arena (that were excavated after Lucangeli's death and by his will), the seats and
the velarium.
Lucangeli's model had a tormented life: it was transported to London from 1815 to 1819; when it was shipped back the boxes were impounded at the Port of Rome because of customs problems. Lucangeli's heirs sold it to the rich collector Emanuele Godoy, who placed it in his house on the Celian hill. The model passed through several hands, until in 1855 Count Zeloni proposed to the (then Vatican) State to exhibit the model for a fee inside the Colosseum, even though he had pawned it at the Monte di Pietà (the Roman official pawnshop in 1851).
The papal government did not accept that idea, and when Rome became the
capital city of the new Italian nation, also the newborn Italian government remained
unmoved.
In 1874 it was proposed that the State should redeem the model from the Monte di
Pietà, but nothing happened. In 1879 the archaeologist Rodolfo Lanciani planned an
Antiquarium - a Museum - on the first floor of the amphitheatre, but the works started
only in 1883.
By now, the model was considerably ruined, because its detachable sections
had been "heaped up like firewood", therefore it had to undergo restoration. In
the end, in 1895 it returned to the Colosseum, but then it was temporarily moved to the Museo Nazionale Romano at Palazzo Altemps. Recently Now (Jan 2013) it has been announced that it should soon be back to the Colosseum to be exposed to the admiration of all.
In Germany the reproductions of Carl May, who copied Chiti's models in Kassel, and of
his sons Georg and Maximilian were very popular. They made a model in 1:60 scale, finished
in 1853, that is now in Aschaffenburg. The model preserved in Altenburg is attributed to the Roman shop of Luigi Carotti.
Many have asked this site for plans in order to make a model. They should look in the feedback page of this site or in the
net, where there are even virtual 3D models available.
Olga and Irina, from Moscow
Architectural Institute, have built a beautiful model only with the help of the plans from
this site and with a lot of work. Compliments! A picture is here on the right.
A serious attempt with Lego was made by Ryan McNaught, who, using 200,000 Lego bricks, presented a model in cross-section with half in its present day ruined form and half as it was when Rome’s original Colosseum was built, circa 80 AD. Built for the University of Sydney, it’s currently on view at Nicholson Museum in Melbourne, Australia, until January 2013.
Another amazing feat is the pizza Colosseum, created in 2007 by British food artist Prudence Emma Staite, who is best known for her chocolate interiors, for a special exhibit at the Museum of London.
Recently I received the pictures of another amazing 1/250 wooden model by Gianluca Vigiliano. It was built as a challenge by Mr. Vigiliano, who was inspired by the film "The Gladiator". All made with wooden pieces, painted and decorated with little statues of gladiators and the public. Enjoy it!!!
See Reshan Yusuf's amazing stone model!!
It is on sale !! Click here for more info and pictures
