The Discovery of Piranesi's Final Project
Stephen Lauf



15 April 1778   Wednesday
Vases, Candelabra, Grave Stones, Sarcophagi. Tripods, Lamps and Ancient Ornaments   volume II

To His Excellency the Count of Brassac, First Equerry of Madame Victoria of France, Colonel of the Hainaut Regiment, and Administrator of the Free School of Drawing in Paris, Wise and Learned Appraiser of Roman Antiquity and the Fine Arts
As a sign of respect, the Cav. Gio. Batt(ist)a Piranesi D. D. D.
Ancient cinerary vase. In its body we see Deities, and Bacchantes surrounding it. It is seen in England with Sir Edvard Walter at his Villa at Berry Hill in the County of Surry.


22-23 y.o. Francesco Piranesi 1781
Collezione delle piu belle statue di Roma

Cleopatra last Queen of Egypt, or a sleeping nymph with a snake-shaped armlet wrapped around her arm, now exists in the Vatican Museum
To the Holiness of Nro. Pius Sextus Pontifex Maximus
Most Vigilant Investigator of Antiquities And Most Munificent Protector of the Fine Arts
Francesco Piranesi D.D.D.
Lorenzo Rocchegiani drew     Francesco Piranesi. engraved 1781


15 April 1812   Wednesday

Morning light clouds, wind SWSerly. Therm. 45°. S. Stanton better, he left us about 9 in tolerably good spirits. Our daughter SL came out to dinner, bringing a very handsome letter in verse[?] from Sally Allen, daughter of Isaac A. in which my trial of her mother's cause January 1811 is very beautifully alluded to. Therm. rose to 65°. Buds are swelling.


15 April 1997
Vincenzo Fasolo, "The Campo Marzio of G. B. Piranesi".
"The Campo Marzio of G. B. Piranesi" by Vincenzo Fasolo first appeared in Quaderni dell'Instituto di Storia dell'Architecttura, n.15 - 1956, published by the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Rome.
Fasolo's essay on Piranesi's Ichnographia of the Campo Marzio is relatively rare among Campo Marzio literature in that it presents a straightforward description and analysis of Piranesi's urban design, yet it nonetheless harbors factual errors and misinterpretations. This essay also formed the groundwork of Tafuri's later interpretation of Piranesi's large plan. Here, this essay is here translated from Italian into English by Anthony D'Aulerio, and accompanied with corrections and critical annotations by Stephen Lauf.
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15 April 1999
Inside Density
I recently purchased The Architect: reconstructing her practice. I was happy to read your writing therein, and the book in general has inspired me to research and write about the woman I believe to be Christianity's first master architect. This late 3rd, early 4th century woman, whose name I will soon disclose at www.quondam.com, is indeed a figure in history, however, she is known for Christian issues other than the extremely strong possibility that she was instrumental in designing and building Christianity's first basilica building boom. My [initial] research is fairly complete at this point, and I am now in the process of forming the final text via web pages.
In the interest of intellectual quizzing, I'm offering you several hints as to this woman's identity. Perhaps you already know who I'm speaking of, but I assume that no one else has yet to investigate this woman in terms of her actually having an architectural "practice".
identity hints:
1. she is the woman credited with the (legendary?) discovery of the True Cross.
2. she is the grandmother of the Christianity's second master architect [sic], who is also a woman.
3. she gave birth to her only child [sic?], a son, in Serbia circa 272 AD.
4. one of the great piers holding up the dome of St. Peter's Rome is dedicated to this woman.


15 April 2000
image play [. . .Vedute]













15 April 2004
Re: What contemporary art will give me the best return on my investment?
Last time I was at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was early May 2002. I took an Australian relation who was visiting me on his trip around the world (of sex). When we arrived, Simon said, "Steve, you know, I was at the real Taj Mahal just over a month ago, and this hardly compares." We both laughed. Inside, I was surprised to see the place populated by lots of South Asians.
As to advise on art investment, follow Gertrude Stein--buy it when it's cheap!
And Donald when are you going to fire your hairdresser?!?
ps Do you remember the painting of the Sugar Factory on the Delaware River in Philadelphia (which building you looked at maybe buying in the early 1990s when riverboat gambling was a local topic of discussion) that I proposed selling to you (when I owned and operated venue)? I still have your 'thanks but no thanks' reply letter. I think this letter just shot way up in value. Do you want to buy it???


15 April 2005
abracadabra, faia
[...before the approaching apocalyptic EtherWare party.]
"Santa Monica, she's the mother of St. Augustine, right?"
And Santa Barbara, she's the non-existent patron saint of architects, right?"
"Shut-up already. We have to get out of West Hollywood before the stupid parade starts. I say we go to Malibu."
"Damn! We should've rented a Malibu."
"I thought it was your idea we got the vintage Probe."


15 April 2016



15 April 2023   Saturday
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