A reconsruction of five arcades of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct.  One of a group of four drawings in Architectura Civile showing the remains uncovered during the digging of the foundations of the church of Sant’Ignazio in the late 1620s (RCIN 910397–910340; for further see dal Pozzo A.IX pp. 656-7).

Companion to 910398, with the consecutive ‘Pozzo’ number, the drawing shows the same five arcades of the Aqua Virgo, viewed from the other side, which was architecturally much more elaborate. The arches spring from impost pilasters, and are framed by engaged Corinthian columns carrying an entablature. The central bay has two larger columns, the capitals reaching to the cornice of the side bays, and its entablature screens the whole height of the exterior of the specus, whereas that of the side bays covers only the lower half. The column shafts are cabled in their lower thirds. According to Alessandro Donati (Roma vetus, 1639, p. 291), the columns were of marble as was the cladding of the piers and entablature. Like 910398, the dal Pozzo drawing is probably taken from an original by the architect Orazio Grassi and, given the apparent accuracy of 910398, may also be considered reliable.

Numbering: 46

Text adapted from Ian Campbell, The Paper Museum of Cassiano dal Pozzo: A Catalogue Raisonné. A.IX: Ancient Roman Topography, London, 2004, cat. 245.