Travertine, the Roman stone: Technical and ideational implications of its use in architecture in Rome from the mid-15th to the early 16th Century

Travertine, the Roman stone: Technical and ideational implications of its use in architecture in Rome from the mid-15th to the early 16th Century

Travertine is a mostly light-coloured limestone, which obtained its name from the quarries of Tivoli, a town 30 km from Rome. Especially since the 20th Century, it is frequently called the typical Roman stone; with good reason – for its periodical use since the Augustan age has left substantial traces in the cityscape of Rome.

In my doctoral project, I examine a period that lies between one of the cyclical troughs and booms of travertine use in the city of Rome. It is the second half of the 15th Century, when there was an upswing in the use of this building material. The heyday of travertine was fostered by many factors, like, for instance, the advancement in building logistics and the study of antique architecture. That is why in my research I consider the often intertwined technical and ideational conditions of travertine in early modern Rome.

During my stay at the HAB I am studying early modern writings that deal with architectural theory and practice, as well as buildings and their materials.”

https://www.identitaet-und-erbe.org/personen/katharina-rotte/