POMPEII

In addition to the graphic documentation provided by the photomosaics, other information was researched in order to provide a more complete interpretation of via dell’Abbondanza.  The following studies and analyses were undertaken:

Spinazzola Research - Vittorio Spinazzola, Soprintendente of Pompeii between 1910 and 1923, supervised the excavation, reconstruction and recording of almost 400 meters of the street during his tenure. These excavations were named the Nuovi Scavi.  The work was posthumously published in 1953 as Pompei alla luce degli Scavi Nuovi di Via dell’Abbondanza (anni 1910-1923).[1] This three-volume monograph documents the buildings and their frontages along the street using excavation photographs, drawings, watercolors and charcoal drawings.  The publication also includes numerous illustrations of architectural details and wall paintings, many of which have since disappeared.

The first two volumes describe the excavations supervised by Spinazzola.  They present the archaeological record of not only via dell’Abbondanza and its building frontages, but also the interiors of 15 structures.  The documentation includes text, black and white illustrations and photographs.  The third volume is a portfolio that consists of 96 color and black and white plates of the buildings and their decoration.  Although several of the plates contain photographs, most are drawings, watercolors and charcoal illustrations.  Of significant interest is a set of 18 black and white orthographic elevation drawings by Alberto Sanarica and Gennaro Luciano[2] showing the fronts of each insula as excavated and also postulating the outline and detail of how the buildings might have looked before their destruction.  Almost all of the watercolors and charcoals depict hypothetical perspective illustrations of how the original structures may have appeared.[3]

One of the early project objectives was to find any of the original Spinazzola excavation materials that could be used for the condition analyses of the facades of via dell’Abbondanza.  The following were located:

• Ninety photographic prints of the excavations (made from the original glass plate negatives) were located in the Photographic Archives of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei and digitally recorded.
• Original excavation reports were reviewed in the annual volumes of the Giornali degli scavi di Pompeii stored in the Director’s office complex on the site.  The material is primarily handwritten monthly summary reports annotated with sketches of locations, graffiti and dipinti.  The November 1911 entry was photographed documenting the beginning of the Spinazzola Nuovi Scavi explorations on via dell’Abbondanza.

None of the other original drawings, watercolors or charcoal illustrations were found in the Pompeii library or archives.

Publication of the Nuovi Scavi was in process at the time of Spinazzola’s death in 1943.  The work was to have been published by Casa Editrice Libraria Ulrico Hoepli di Milano.  In August of 1943 Milan was bombed and the first printing of Spinazzola’s book (42 signatures or 672 pages, proofs of other pages, printing plates and color illustration sheets) was destroyed.[4] Because of this, it is commonly believed that all of the original excavation artwork was also destroyed.  However, the material must have existed in 1953 as it was reproduced in the final publication.

The search for the materials therefore continued at several other locations:

• The library of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
• The archives of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
• The Instituto di Belle Arti di Napoli
• The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, the successor to the publisher of the 1953 Spinazzola volumes, La Libreria dello Stato
• A meeting in Naples with Sig. Paolo Sanarica, son of Alberto Sanarica, to determine if some of the materials might belong to his family.[5]

Unfortunately, none of the drawings or other artwork could be found at any of these places.  Fortunately, representatives of The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato kindly granted permission to reproduce images from the 1953 publication volumes.[6] Digital photography was used to record the 18 orthographic elevation drawings and other appropriate illustrations. These were used as part of the data set that was compared with the photomosaics to quantify changes that have occurred to the facades since their excavation.

Excavation History and WWII Bombing – The first official explorations in Pompeii began in 1748 and the first structures discovered on via dell’Abbondanza were found in 1754.  Consequently, there is a significant history to the excavations themselves, as well as that of the ancient city.  This has been documented in journals, manuscripts, books, paintings, drawings, etchings and photographs for over two and one-half centuries.  Unfortunately, some have been lost, while the availability of many other sources is limited.

Research was conducted in the library, photographic archives and excavation journals repository (Giornali degli Scavi) of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei, the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, the British Library in Great Britain as well as numerous libraries in the United States to identify images and information about via dell’Abbondanza such as:

• Maps and plans of the site
• Pages from excavation journals
• Drawings, engravings and watercolors showing buildings or features
• Excavation photographs and drawings
• Maps of WW II bombing
• Inscriptions (dipinti and graffiti) recorded during excavations
• Photographs of the 1879 model of Pompeii in the Naples Museum

The history of the excavation of via dell’Abbondanza and the damage sustained during WWII can be visually traced utilizing these materials.

Condition Assessment Analysis - A review of the history of the excavation of via dell’Abbondanza reflects that about half of the street was dug from the volcanic lapilli and ash between 200 and 150 years ago, and the balance was exposed almost 100 years ago.  It is commonly believed and understood that exposure to both the elements and a multitude of visitors has been harmful to the structures.[7] However, current examination of the buildings only indicates what remains, not what has altered or has been lost.  The recently created photomosaics and historical records such as engravings, watercolors, photographs and drawings were examined to identify changes in the condition of the structures since their original excavation.  Adequate historical documentation was identified to enable this comparison to be made on twenty of the city blocks.

Names Catalogue - Research was carried out to verify the names of all cross streets, regio, insula and entrance numbers.  Seven respected sources were consulted in order to formulate a comprehensive database of the historical name(s) of each of the 259 properties along via dell’Abbondanza and to determine the original function of each.

Insula Dimensions - The lengths of all city blocks were measured by hand for error analysis and to compare with historical drawings.

The studies were undertaken over the life of the project:

2004 season – Research was conducted in the British Library to review Vittorio Spinazzola’s three-volume publication.

2005 season – Research was started in the photographic archives of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei to identify and digitally photograph the Spinazzola excavation photos of via dell’Abbondanza.  The library was visited to identify books or other publications containing appropriate material.  All of the building facades between via Stabiana and the Sarno Gate were hand measured.

2006 season – The library of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei was visited to identify any of the original Spinazzola excavation artwork and illustrations. Off-season research was conducted in libraries in the United States to collect information about the names and functions of the properties.

2007 season – Research was continued in the photographic archives of the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei to identify additional excavation and other photos of the street.  Documents in the Giornali degli Scavi storeroom were examined and research in the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei library was continued to identify and digitally photograph historical information and images of via dell’Abbondanza.  Off-season research was conducted in libraries in the United States to identify and digitally photograph historical maps and illustrations and to collect information about the names and functions of the properties.

2008 season – Research and digital recording was continued in the photographic archives, library and Giornali degli Scavi storeroom.  Several eighteenth and nineteenth century maps and watercolors depicting via dell’Abbondanza and the1879 model of Pompeii were photographed in the archives and main building of the Naples Archaeological Museum.  The lengths of all of the insulae were hand measured with a 50-meter tape.  Off-season research was conducted in libraries in the United States to identify and digitally photograph historical maps and illustrations, to collect information about the names and functions of the properties and to catalogue inscriptions (dipinti and graffiti) that have been recorded from the building facades.

2009 season– Library and archive research was completed.