15 Nov

The Tale of a Detail:

Many of the buildings here in Rome were built during a time where illiteracy was common, therefore many building details literally tell stories by carving images into their facade.  A church may show images of saints and a municipal building may show pictures of war and celebration. These, however, are not the type of details that I am interested in. When I first arrived in Rome I began to notice that the simplest details showed signs of craft and care. The walls of  buildings need drains to allow moisture and air to escape and rather then punching a hole into the wall, a design was carved into it. Similarly floor drains, rather then being an ugly grate, are carved and sculpted as well. This picture is of a floor drain next to the Tempietto. This detail of the drain tells me of the importance placed on the building and the care with which it was designed. The detail also tells me of the rains and the way it functions, it is sculpted to reveal two star shapes, one that is raised and channels the ground water into the other which is carved and provides a literal channel for the water to drain into the holes at the center. The star that is carved out is left stained by the water and accents the design of the star shape.