Baroque Antiquity and the Archaeological Imagination in Early Modern Europe

This pioneer study examines the assimilation and transformation of antiquity in the Roman Baroque. It combines several "histories" - print, archaeology and architecture - in the attempt to identify strategies of recovering the past in the Early Modern period. In contrast to the multitude of books on antiquity in the Renaissance, no book exists on antiquity in the Baroque. The book is structured on a series of case studies taken from 17th century antiquarian prints. By analyzing the elements of fantasy in the archaeological visions of Giacomo Lauros, 'Antiquae Urbis Splendor'(1615)and Athanasius Kirchers 'Latium'(1671),the book investigates the nature and meaning of archaeology before it was established on modern scientific principles. The central question evolves around a paradox: Since the early Renaissance archaeology had depicted antiquity with increasing accuracy, but 17th century antiquarians not only ignored the remains, but deliberately misinterpreted them. Reconsidering these calculated errors makes it clear that antiquity meant more than ever: In the conflict of values between Church and State, between Catholics and Protestants, ancient Rome was made to signal religious, moral and political ideas through the effective means of widely distributed printed reconstructions.