Il Tempietto rinnovato: restauri e interpretazioni tra Seicento e Ottocento

The present paper illustrates major maintenance works and architectural and decorative renovations carried out on the Tempietto. The analysis starts from the late Sixteenth-early Seventeenth century that saw the early transformations of the courtyard and the restoration of the crypt below, as well as changes to the dome and the lantern and, finally, cleaning and plastering interventions. Through an accurate examination of documentary and iconographic source material ­ plentiful in the Nineteenth century ­ the author gives an account of these works shedding light on the interventions brought about by prominent architects like Camporese, Valadier, Canina, and Francesco Fontana, to cope with recurrent issues that would cause damage to Bramante¹s architectural work. The text also analyses the various replacements of the dome¹s outer surface ­ constantly damaged by water leakage ­, which have altered its original look. Finally, the author addresses the restorers¹ enduring effort to simulate stone ­ which is illustrated in the above-mentioned maintenance works ­ and investigates the definition of the Tempietto as a magnum marmoreumque ciborium.