Print Size: 8" x 10" (Frame: 16" x 20") Rome, 1598
The mastery of arches and improvements in concrete allowed ancient Romans to build monumental vaults and enclose vast interior spaces, like the terme, or public baths. None was grander than the Baths of Diocletion, which were completed in the early 4th century and remained in use until the Goths cut off their water supply some 200 years later. Few Roman interiors have withstood the ravages of time and pillage excepting those that were reused, notably as churches, for example, the Pantheon which was consecrated as Santa Maria delle Rotonda in 609, and also San Bernardo alle Terme. The latter was built in the late 16th century in a round domed chamber along the outer walls of Diocletion’s terme, hence its name. San Bernardo’s dome, seen here, is similar but half the size of that over the Pantheon, which, with a diameter of 142 feet, is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Crowned by a central light-admitting oculus, San Bernardo’s octagonal and square coffers are testament to the extreme sophistication of Roman building techniques, reducing the weight of the dome and the amount of concrete required to build it while creating a compelling interior design in its concentric diminishing rings.
