Anecdotes of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Architects and Curiosities of Art (Vol. 3 of 3) by S. Spooner (pdf to ebook reader .TXT) 📕

obelisks at least a third larger, and convey them often several hundred

miles, to the places where they erected them.

"Sixtus V. was now desirous of raising in the centre of the square of

St. Peter's the only obelisk which remained standing, but partly

interred, near the wall of the Sacristy, where was formerly the Circus

of Nero. Other pontiffs had had the same wish, but the difficulty of the

enterprise had prevented the execution.

"This obelisk, or pyramid, is of red granite, called by the ancient

Romans, Marmor Thebanum (Theban marble), on account of having been

worked near Thebes, in Egypt, whence it was transported to Rome in the

time of Cæsar. Of the immense number in Rome, this is the only one

remaining entire; it is without hieroglyphics, 84 feet high, 8 feet 6

inches wide at the base, and 5 feet 6 inches at the top. One cubic foot

of this granite weighs about 160 pounds; so that the whole weight of the

obelisk must be somewhat less than 759,000 lbs. Of the manner in which

the Egyptians and Romans moved these enormous masses we have no idea,

and so many centuries having elapsed since such a thing had been done,

this proposition of Sixtus V. was considered so novel, that a general

assembly was called of all the mathematicians, engineers, and learned

men from various parts of Europe; and, in a congress held by the pope,

more than 500 persons presented themselves, bringing with them their

inventions; some with drawings, some with models, others with writings

or arguments.

"The greater number were for removing it by means of an iron carriage

and thirty-two levers. Others invented a half wheel, on which the

obelisk was to be raised by degrees. Some proposed screws, and others

thought of carrying it upon slings.

"Bartolomeo Ammanati, a Florentine architect and sculptor, sent

expressly by the grand duke, presented himself before the pope, without

either models or designs, and requested a year to consider it; for this

he was most severely reprimanded by the pontiff. Fontana exhibited his

wooden model, with a leaden pyramid, which, by means of a windlass and

crane, was raised and lowered with the greatest facility; he explained

the nature of these machines and movements, and gave a practical proof

of their capability by raising a small pyramid in the mausoleum of

Augustus, which was in a ruinous condition. After many disputes,

Fontana's invention was approved; but, as he had not yet acquired a name

of sufficient importance, the execution of it was committed to two

architects of renown, Giacomo della Porta and Bartolomeo

Ammanati.--These immediately commenced a scaffold in the centre of the

square where the obelisk was to stand.

"Fontana being justly displeased that his own discovery should not be

entrusted to his execution, went to the pope, and respectfully

represented to him, that no one could so properly execute a design as

the inventor. Sixtus was persuaded, and committed the entire direction

of it to him. The architect then commenced his work with the utmost

celerity. He dug a square hole of 44 feet, in the piazza, 24 feet deep,

and finding the soil watery and chalky, he made it firm by strong and

massive piles. At the same time he had ropes made, three inches in

diameter, 1500 feet long, an immense quantity of cords, large iron rods

to strengthen the obelisk, and other pieces of iron for the cases of the

cranes, pins, circles, pivots, and instruments of every kind. The iron

to secure the obelisk alone amounted to 40,000 lbs., and was made in the

manufactories of Rome, Ronciglione, and Subbiaco. The beams, taken from

the woods of Nettuno, were of such a prodigious size, that each was

drawn by seven pair of buffalos. From Terracina, elm was brought, for

the caseing, and Holm oak for the shafts of windlass; and to prevent the

ground from giving way, it being soft and marshy, in consequence of the

great weight, he made a bed with two layers of timber, crossing each

other in a contrary direction. On this foundation he placed the castle

or carriage, which had eight columns: each of these columns was composed

of so many thick planks, that they measured 13 feet in circumference.

These were united together by thick cords, without screws, in order to

be done and undone with greater quickness. The height of the beams was

required to be 90 feet; and not any being of that length, they were

placed one on the other, and united by iron bands. These columns were

strengthened by forty-eight braces, and tied together on all sides. The

obelisk was entirely covered with double mats, to prevent its being

injured; it was then surrounded by planks, over which were placed large

rods of iron, and these embracing the thick part underneath, came

directly over the four faces of the mass, which thus became totally

encircled with these coverings. The whole pyramid thus weighed one

million and a half pounds. Fontana calculated that every windlass, with

good ropes and cranes, would be able to move 20,000 lbs. weight; and

consequently forty would move 800,000, and he gained the rest by five

levers of thick beams 52 feet long.

"So novel an apparatus excited the curiosity of all Rome, and of

foreigners also, who came from distant countries to see what effect

would be produced by this mass of beams, mingled with ropes, windlasses,

levers, and pulleys. In order to prevent confusion, Sixtus V. issued one

of his mandates, that on the day of its being worked, no one, except the

workmen, should enter the enclosure, on pain of death, and that no one

should make the least noise, nor even speak loud. Accordingly, on the

30th of April, 1586, the first to enter the barrier was the chief

justice and his officers, and the executioner to plant the gibbet, not

merely as a matter of ceremony. Fontana went to receive the benediction

of the pope, who, after having bestowed it, told him to be cautious of

what he did, for a failure would certainly cost him his head. On this

occasion, Sixtus felt the difference between his regard for his own

glory, and his affection for the architect. Fontana, in terror, secretly

placed horses at every gate, ready to convey him from the papal anger,

in case of an accident. At the dawn of day, two masses of the Holy Ghost

were celebrated; all the artificers made their communion, and received

the papal benediction, and before the rising of the sun all entered the

barrier. The concourse of spectators was such, that the tops of the

houses were covered, and the streets crowded. The nobility and prelates

were at the barriers, between the Swiss guards and the cavalry: all were

fixed and attentive to the proceedings; and, terrified at the sight of

the inexorable gibbet, every one was silent.

"The architect gave an order that, at the sound of the trumpet, each

should begin working, and at that of the bell, placed in the castle of

wood, each should desist; there were more than 900 workmen, and 75

horses. The trumpet sounded, and in an instant, men, horses, windlasses,

cranes, and levers were all in motion. The ground trembled, the castle

cracked, all the planks bent from the enormous weight, and the pyramid,

which inclined a foot towards the choir of St. Peter, was raised

perpendicularly. The commencement having prospered so well, the bell

sounded a rest. In twelve more movements the pyramid was raised almost

two feet from the ground, in such a situation that it could be placed on

the rollers, and it remained firmly fixed by means of wedges of iron and

wood. At this happy event the castle of St. Angelo discharged all its

artillery, and a universal joy pervaded the whole city.

"Fontana was now convinced that the ropes were better than iron bands,

these being most broken or distorted, or expanded by the weight. On the

7th of May the pyramid was placed on the sledge--a more difficult and

tedious operation than that of raising it, it being necessary to convey

it over the piazza to the situation intended for it, which was 115 rods

from where it then stood. The level of the piazza being about 30 feet

lower, it was necessary to throw up an earthen embankment from one place

to the other, well secured by piles, &c. This being done, on the 13th

of June, by means of four windlasses, the pyramid was removed with the

greatest facility on the rollers, to the place of its destination. The

pope deferred its erection to the next autumn, lest the summer heats

should injure the workmen and spectators.

"In the meantime the pedestal, which was interred 30 feet, was removed:

it was composed of two parts, the ogee and basement being of the same

mass, and the plinth of white marble. All the preparations were made for

this last operation on the 10th of September, with the same solemnities;

140 horses and 800 men were employed. The pope selected this day for the

solemn entrance of the duke of Luxembourg, ambassador of ceremony from

Henry III. of France, and caused the procession to enter by the Porta

Angelica, instead of the Porta del Popolo. When this nobleman crossed

the Piazza of St. Peter's, he stopped to observe the concourse of

workmen in the midst of a forest of machines, and saw, admiring, Rome

rising again by the hand of Sixtus V. In fifty-two movements the pyramid

was raised, and at the setting of the sun it was placed firm upon its

pedestal. The castle disappeared, and the artificers, intoxicated with

joy, carried Fontana on their shoulders in triumph to his own house,

amidst the sound of drums and trumpets, and the plaudits of an immense

crowd.

"In placing it upright on the pedestal, Fontana considered the method

adopted by the ancients as the least difficult; which was to rest one

end on two globes, then draw the point round, raising it at the same

time, afterwards letting it fall perpendicularly on the pedestal. It is

conjectured that this was the practice adopted by the ancients, because

two dies alone were always covered with lead for a foot or more, and

were moreover crushed at the extremities. Sixtus V. placed a cross 7

feet high at the top of the obelisk, which was carried in procession,

and which made the whole height 132 feet.

"For this undertaking, Fontana was created a knight of the Golden Spur,

and a Roman nobleman; he had a pension of 2000 crowns, transferable to

his heirs, ten knighthoods, 5000 crowns of gold in ready money, and

every description of material used in the work, which was valued at more

than 20,000 crowns. Two bronze medals of him were struck; and the

following inscription was placed on the base of the pyramid by order of

the pope:--"

                 Dominicvs Fontana,

             Ex. Pago. Agri. Novocomensis.

               Transtvlit. Et. Erexit.

REMOVAL OF AN OBELISK FROM THEBES TO PARIS.

In 1833, the French removed the smallest of the two obelisks which stood

before the propylon of the temple of Luxor to Paris, and elevated it in

the Place de la Concorde. The shaft is 76 feet high, and eight feet

wide on the broadest side of the base; the pedestal is 10 feet square by

16 feet high. Permission for the removal of both the obelisks having

been granted to the French government by the Viceroy of Egypt, a vessel

constructed for the purpose was sent out in March, 1831, under M. Lebas,

an eminent engineer, to whom the undertaking was confided, it being

previously determined to bring away only one, and M. Lebas found it

sufficiently difficult to bring away the smallest of the two. After

three months' labor with 800 men, the obelisk was removed on an inclined

plane into the vessel, through a hole made in the end for the purpose.

It arrived safely up the Seine to Paris, Dec. 23d, 1833. An inclined

plane of solid masonry was then constructed, leading from the river up

to a platform, also of rough masonry, level with the top of the

pedestal. The obelisk, having been placed on a kind of timber car or

sledge, was drawn up by means of ropes and capstans. One edge of the

base having been brought to its place on the pedestal, it was raised to

a perpendicular position by ropes and pulleys attached to the heads of

ten masts, five on each side. When all was ready, the obelisk was

elevated to its place under the direction of M. Lebas, in three hours,

without the least accident, Oct. 25th, 1836. It is said that Lebas had

provided himself with loaded pistols, in the firm determination to blow

out his brains in case of an accident!

In 1820, the Viceroy of Egypt presented to the English government the

monolith lying on the ground at