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renovatio urbis: Architecture, Urbanism and Ceremony in the Rome of Julius II

This book examines the urban, architectural and artistic projects during the Pontificate of Julius II (1503-13) in the context of the humanistic, religious and political backgrounds. As one of the most important and productive periods in the history of European civilization, Julius II’s ten year papacy witnessed an unprecedented campaign of building and urban projects, as well as the commissioning of important humanist and theological works. The study argues that the ambition of these projects was inspired by a common vision; to realise a golden age of human piety and intellectual/artistic achievement that could rival past ages in Biblical history. The result of extensive archival and textual research, undertaken in Rome at the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, the Bibliotheca Hertziana and the British School at Rome Library, the book is the first scholarly account of these achievements, offering a comprehensive perspective of how architectural, urban and artistic projects drew upon providential accounts of Rome’s destiny as the ‘2nd Jerusalem’ and the imperial city reborn. The text comprises six chapters, each focusing on a particular work, examined in relation to humanist texts, inscriptions, numismatic sources, antiquarian studies and sermons. Copiously illustrated, with specially produced survey and analytical drawings (maps, plans and reconstructions) and photographs, the book advances our current knowledge of the period by contextualising the urban and architectural commissions, revealing previously unknown connections between built form and humanistic and antiquarian scholarship. The book was published in ‘The Classical Tradition in Architecture’ series by Routledge, edited by Caroline van Eck and was reviewed in the architecture blog 'Guttae: Above and Below Architecture' and the journals 'Church History and Religious Culture' (2013, Vol.93, No.1) and 'Renaissance Quarterly' (2012, Vol.65, No.2).

This book is the first comprehensive investigation of the architectural and urban projects executed in Rome under Pope Julius II (1503-13), drawing upon an extensive body of research and fieldwork in areas of urban design, architecture, humanistic/antiquarian studies, inscriptions and fresco painting. Comprising over 122,000 words (349 pages) of text (including extensive bibliography and notes) and 135 illustrations (some original reconstructions), the book is structured thematically around six chapters that each examines a particular project in relation to Julius’ pontificate. The outcomes from this research identify previously unrecognised links between urban topography, individual buildings and interiors, ceremonies and church sermons.