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Construction Knowledge in Comparison: Architects, Mathematicians and Natural Philosophers Discuss the Damage to St

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Construction Knowledge in Comparison: Architects, Mathematicians and Natural Philosophers Discuss the Damage to St Construction Knowledge in Comparison: Architects, Mathematicians and Natural Philosophers Discuss the Damage to St. Peter’s Dome in 1743 Hermann Schlimme When the structural damage to the dome of St. Peter’s in Rome was perceived as critical in 1741, nothing less than a major symbol of the Catholic Church came to the focus of attention. Eventually a rather unspectacular, yet effective, solution to the damage was implemented between 1743 and 1747. The solution consisted in wrapping iron straps around the body of the dome. It was proposed by Giovanni Poleni (1683-1761), a mathematician from Padua University, and the work was carried out under the direction of the architect Luigi Vanvitelli (1700-73). Far more interesting was the preceding and at times even ferocious dispute (1742-43) involving architects, mathematicians and natural scientists about what had really caused the damage. Their arguments are documented in a long series of printed and manuscript experts’ reports (Table1), which have been studied as part of the general history of St. Peter’s cupola (cf. Di Stefano 1963 and 1980, Mainstone 1999). The reports by the mathematicians have been extensively analysed for their significant role in the development of modern construction science (cf. Benvenuto 1981, Heyman 1988, Guerra 1991, Di Pasquale 1994, Pescinellesi-Rapallini 1995, Di Pasquale 1996, Como 1997). Other studies have looked at the collaboration between the mathematician Poleni and the architect Vanvitelli (Brusatin 1971, Cavallari-Murat 1973). On the other hand, reports by building professionals (architects, master builders) and by philosophers have rarely been studied. Apart from this series of known expertises, we have five further, hitherto unpublished manuscript reports in the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Cicognara V 3849, Table1). Authors include an architect and several mathematicians. Another richly illustrated manuscript showing the damage to the cupola is found in the Gabinetto Nazionale per la Grafica in Rome. This paper proposes yet another approach to the subject, and aims to read this material as a unique cross-section through competing “inventories” of construction knowledge. What methods, arguments and tools were used by the different professionals? Topics for reflection are, for example: to what extent had the experimental approach of mathematicians and natural philosophers in the tradition of Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), and their interest in everyday building techniques, led to an alternative building expertise? And to what degree were construction principles, handed down from mediaeval and Renaissance times, still a reference point in the eighteenth century? How helpful was general practical experience in dealing with a huge and unique cupola like that of St. Peter’s? (Fig.1). And how did the different bodies of knowledge interact? For reasons of space, the present study does not cover all available expert reports on the cupola of St. Peter’s and has to 2853 remain indicative. The discussion of the entire source material would provide the subject for a longer essay. Table 1. Expert reports concerning the damages of the dome of St. Peter’s 1680-1767. Listed are the written reports available today DATE NAME, PLACE APPOINTMENTS, TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FIELDS OF INFORMATION EXPERTISE 1 1680 Giuseppe Paglia, architect manuscript; AFSP (1° P., Arm. III, n. Rome 3, fasc. 6). 2 1694 Carlo Fontana, architect of the printed: Templum Vaticanum et ipsius Rome Reverenda Fabbrica di orig : cum aedificiis maxime San Pietro conspicuis antiquitus, & recens ibidem constitutis; … . Rome: Francisi Buagni 1694. 3 1695 Paolo Falconieri , mathematician, architect manuscript: Discorso sopra la cupola Florence di S. Pietro, fatto a requisizione dell’illustrissimo signor Paolo Falconieri in agosto 1695. BNCR (Ms. 787). 4 1742 Tommaso Leseur, mathematicians, Leseur printed: Parere di tre mattematici Francesco Jacquier, and Jacquier at the sopra i danni, che si trovano nella Ruggiero Giuseppe Ordine dei Minimi, cupola di S. Pietro …, Rome 1742. Boscovich, all Rome Boscovich as prof. at the Collegio Romano 5 1743 Anonymous, philosopher printed: Sentimenti di un filosofo probably the gesuit Sopra le Cause, e Rimedi de’ danni Favré, Rome della Cupola di San Pietro E sopra il Parere dato su tale Argomento da’ tre Matematici al fine del 1742. Rome 1743. 6 1743, 22 Giovanni Gaetano librarian of the Vatican manuscript: Parere d.o in voce nel January Bottari, Rome Library; curator of the congresso antecendente da Gio. Corsini Library, Bottari, BAV (Cicognara V 3849). antiquarian 7 1743, 16 Giovanni Amico, architect manuscript: Brieve Relazione Del February Trapani autore del Modello, BAV (Cicognara V 3849). 8 1743 Lelio Cosatti, Rome architect printed: Riflessioni ... sopra il sistema dei tre rr.pp. mattematici e suo parere circa il patimento, e risarcimento della gran cupola di S. Pietro, Rome: Bernabò & Lazzarini, 1743. 9 1743, 2 Gabriello mathematician, prof. at manuscript letters, BAV (Cicognara V March and Manfredi, Bologna Bologna University 3849). 24 April 10 1743 Giovanni Poleni, mathematician, prof. at manuscript: Riflessioni sopra i danni e 21 March Padua Padua University la ristaurazione della cupola del tempio di San Pietro in Roma. BM (5519, cod. DCLVIII). 11 1743 Anonymous mathematician manuscript: Sentimento di uno matematico scritto currenti calamo sopra il parere di tre matematici romani BAV (Cicognara V 3849). 2854 DATE NAME, PLACE APPOINTMENTS, TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL FIELDS OF INFORMATION EXPERTISE 12 1743 P. Abate Raviglia, Santini is dilettante in printed: Risoluzione del Dubbio Domenico Sante mathematics at the proposto dal Padre AbateRaviglia e Santini, both Rome Maddalena parere intorno alli contraforti, ed altri danni della Cupola Vaticana del P. Domenico Sante Santini De Ministri degl’Infermi, Dilettante di Matematica alla Maddalena, Rome: Rosati, 1743. 13 1743 Anonymous -- printed: Lettera del Signor N.N. al Signor N.N. sopra il parere del P. Domenico Sante Santini intorno i danni della cupola di S. Pietro. Rome 1743. 14 1743 Tommaso Leseur, mathematicians, Leseur printed: Riflessioni de padri Tommaso Francesco Jacquier, and Jacquier at the Le Seur, Francesco Jacquier Ruggiero Giuseppe Ordine dei Minimi, dell’Ordine de’ Minimi, e Ruggiero Boscovich, all Rome Boscovich as prof. at the Giuseppe Boscovich della Compagnia Collegio Romano di Gesù, sopra alcune difficoltà spettanti i danni, e risarcimenti della Cupola di S. Pietro…, Rome 1743. 15 1743 Lelio Cosatti, Rome architect printed: Aggiunte ... Rome: Bernabò & Lazzarini, 1743. 16 1743, 21 Capomastro master builder at the printed: Breve discorso sopra la May Muratore (probably Reverenda Fabbrica di Cupola di San Pietro di N.N. Nicola Giobbe or San Pietro capomastro Muratore, later printed as: Giuseppe Sardi), Breve discorso in difesa della Cupola Rome di S. Pietro di N.N., capomastro muratore, regolato circa i danni secondo la prima scrittura de' rr. pp. mattematici l'anno 1744. Rome 1744. 17 1743, 10 Giovanni Poleni, mathematician, prof. at manuscript: Aggiunte alle riflessioni June Padua Padua University sopra i danni e sopra la ristaurazione del tempio di San Pietro in Roma. BM (5520, cod. DCXLIX). 18 1743, Luigi Vanvitelli et architect and manuscript: Osservazioni sui danni 14 June al., Rome mathematician, architect della cupola di S. Pietro, 1743. GNS of the Reverenda (F.C. 128989-128994, vol. 158 H 14); Fabbrica di San Pietro the manuscript was handed over to the pope on 14 June 1743. 19 1744 Giovanni Rizzetti, natural philosopher, printed: Elementi di architettura per Castelfranco Veneto (amateur) architect erigerla in scienza, con un discorso sopra la cupola di S. Pietro in Roma. Venice 1744. 20 1748 Giovanni Poleni, mathematician, prof. at printed: Memorie istoriche della gran Padua Padua University cupola del Tempio Vaticano e de'danni di essa, e de'ristoramenti loro, divise in libri cinque. Padua 1748. 21 1767 Gaetano Chiaveri, architect of the King of printed: Breve discorso di Gaetano Rome, Dresden Poland and Prince Chiaveri circa i danni riconosciuti Elector of Saxony nella portentosa Cupola di San Pietro di Roma, e le sue principali cause, con la maniera durabile, e più sicura per la reparazione. Pesaro 1767. 2855 Figure 1. Dome of St. Peter’s (foto H. Schlimme) THREE MATHEMATICIANS 1742 The whole 1742-43 debate about the cupola of St. Peter’s had its pivotal point in the report of three mathematicians: Tommaso Leseur (1703-70), Francesco Jacquier (1711-88) of the Ordine dei Minimi and Ruggiero Giuseppe Boscovich (1711-87) from the Collegio Romano. Pope Benedict XIV gave them the commission after a series of verbal reports and two on-site-visits with architects and building experts to the cupola in September and October 1742, in presence of the architects Ferdinando Fuga (1699-1782), Luigi Vanvitelli and Nicola Salvi (1697-1751). Benedict decided not to rely entirely on building experts, probably because he was well aware of the developments taking place in science. Benedict had studied canonical and civil law and, since 1725, cared for the “Istituto di Scienze”. He continued the promotion of modern physics, chemistry and medicine after his election to the Holy See in 1740. The three mathematicians’ specific goal was to provide a theoretical explanation for the dome’s crack-and-damage pattern, and then to work out a solution (Fig.2). In their introduction, Leseur, Jacquier and Boscovich defended their position against anyone who would “prefer practical knowledge, or might even say that theory was harmful” (1742, p.4). They argued that someone with 2856 a practical knowledge would not have had enough experience to deal with St.Peter’s dome, which is not only enormous, but also unique, so there was no group of similar cupolas to refer to (1742, p.4). Mathematicians, who also knew the principles of mechanics, were therefore deemed essential. These remarks were probably addressed to the building experts among their readers. First of all, the mathematicians describe the cupola and its exact dimensions. They identify no less than thirty different types of cracks, indicating their orientation and width (Leseur-Jacquier-Boscovich 1742, pp.6-9).
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