Notebook with Views of the Excavations at Herculaneum and of Other Italian Cities 1750 - 1751

Curator: This is an open notebook page by Jérôme Charles Bellicard, dating from around 1750 or 1751, titled "Notebook with Views of the Excavations at Herculaneum and of Other Italian Cities". Editor: Wow, it’s like stumbling upon an architect's personal sketchpad. So many ideas captured raw. There’s a definite sense of… I don't know...melancholic beauty. You can almost feel the weight of history embedded in those faded ink lines. Curator: Yes, a tangible record of Neoclassical interests emerging in response to renewed excavations. Notice how Bellicard meticulously delineates both architectural plans and elevations. Editor: I'm drawn to the rough-hewn nature of the drawing, almost unfinished, giving it an intimate feel. I especially like the jars – the ink seems to flow organically. Curator: Indeed. He utilizes ink on paper to dissect and understand the structures he observed. Semiotically, the line weights themselves convey a sense of spatial depth and light, despite the limited tonal range. Editor: Makes you wonder, what was his daily life like, strolling amidst those ancient ruins, a quill pen in hand. The details about these antique artifacts really highlight a renewed reverence for classical antiquity. Curator: The inclusion of multiple Italian cityscapes highlights the grand tour tradition, emphasizing observation, documentation and a search for the ideal classical form. Editor: To me, it’s about that impulse to capture something fleeting. It is like a whisper from the past…that's a lot to unpack. Curator: A potent testament, isn't it, to the enduring allure of antiquity viewed through a scientific lens?