265
small sketch.
4
Thanks to the authority of Father Secchi and his friendship with the
architect Poletti, the project overcame the objections raised by archaeologists within
the Commission of Fine Arts and the metal bar was built and installed by Luswergh
(Fig. 16.3).
At the bottom of the same letter, Father Secchi also proposed to protect the
Antonina and Traiana columns:
And with this occasion I ask forgiveness from Y[our] E[xcellency] if I dare to remind you
that the Antonine column has also been struck by lightning in my time and that such a
disaster could occur again, and that … it seems to me that not to take advantage of the lights
and profits of science would be leaving such precious monuments in manifest danger. Art
can achieve its purpose by properly masking the course of the conductor, but safety must
always come first.
5
This proposal was also implemented. In addition, in 1865, Father Secchi was
commissioned by Bishop Gaetano Rodilossi to install a lightning rod on the cathedral of Alatri, near Frosinone.
Ten years later, he put this experience in the field of lightning rods to good use;
when Rome had become the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and the pope had
retreated beyond the Tiber, Secchi devised and installed a network of lightning rods
to protect the Papal Palace and the Vatican Basilica.
6
16.4 The Distribution of Drinking Water in the Countries
of Lazio (1861–1865)
The lack of drinking water in the urban areas under Papal rule had reached a state of
emergency by 1861, with serious consequences for the health of the population.
Pope Pius IX, urged by the supplications of the population, asked the municipal
architects to start a program of hydraulic works aimed at solving this problem, and
he commissioned Angelo Secchi to supervise their design and construction.
Secchi made numerous journeys to inspect the springs of Cacume (which served
Patrica), of Trovalle (for Alatri and Ferentino), of the Mola (for Maenza and
Piperno), of St. Angel (for Sezze), of Carpineto, Montefortino, Ceciliano, Castel
4 (APUG, Carte A. Secchi, cart. 113, fasc. 1 “Incarichi dati al p. Angelo Secchi” [“Assignments to
the Father Angelo Secchi”], cc. 17–25. ASRm, Ministero dei lavori pubblici, industria, agricoltura, commercio e belle arti, b. 362, fasc. “Restauri alla Piramide di Cajo Cestio” [“Restoration of
the Pyramid of Caius Cestius”], 29 ott. 1861–1862; Ragguaglio 1864: 7).
5 E con questa occasione domando perdono all’E [ccellenza] V[ostra] se ardisco ricordarle che a
tempo mio è stata pure fulminata la colonna Antonina e che simile disastro potrebbe rinnovarsi, e
che … sembrami un non profittare dei lumi e degli utili della scienza il lasciare in pericolo manifesto così preziosi monumenti. L’arte può ottenere il suo scopo mascherando opportunamente il
corso del conduttore, ma sempre la sicurezza deve essere il primo pensiero (ASRm, Ministero dei
lavori pubblici, industria, agricoltura, commercio e belle arti, b. 362, fasc. “Restauri alla Piramide
di Cajo Cestio”).
6 (Secchi 1876: 58–59. Mercati 1929: 237. Vian 2016)
16 Secchi’s Science in the Service of the Public
small sketch.
4
Thanks to the authority of Father Secchi and his friendship with the
architect Poletti, the project overcame the objections raised by archaeologists within
the Commission of Fine Arts and the metal bar was built and installed by Luswergh
(Fig. 16.3).
At the bottom of the same letter, Father Secchi also proposed to protect the
Antonina and Traiana columns:
And with this occasion I ask forgiveness from Y[our] E[xcellency] if I dare to remind you
that the Antonine column has also been struck by lightning in my time and that such a
disaster could occur again, and that … it seems to me that not to take advantage of the lights
and profits of science would be leaving such precious monuments in manifest danger. Art
can achieve its purpose by properly masking the course of the conductor, but safety must
always come first.
5
This proposal was also implemented. In addition, in 1865, Father Secchi was
commissioned by Bishop Gaetano Rodilossi to install a lightning rod on the cathedral of Alatri, near Frosinone.
Ten years later, he put this experience in the field of lightning rods to good use;
when Rome had become the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and the pope had
retreated beyond the Tiber, Secchi devised and installed a network of lightning rods
to protect the Papal Palace and the Vatican Basilica.
6
16.4 The Distribution of Drinking Water in the Countries
of Lazio (1861–1865)
The lack of drinking water in the urban areas under Papal rule had reached a state of
emergency by 1861, with serious consequences for the health of the population.
Pope Pius IX, urged by the supplications of the population, asked the municipal
architects to start a program of hydraulic works aimed at solving this problem, and
he commissioned Angelo Secchi to supervise their design and construction.
Secchi made numerous journeys to inspect the springs of Cacume (which served
Patrica), of Trovalle (for Alatri and Ferentino), of the Mola (for Maenza and
Piperno), of St. Angel (for Sezze), of Carpineto, Montefortino, Ceciliano, Castel
4 (APUG, Carte A. Secchi, cart. 113, fasc. 1 “Incarichi dati al p. Angelo Secchi” [“Assignments to
the Father Angelo Secchi”], cc. 17–25. ASRm, Ministero dei lavori pubblici, industria, agricoltura, commercio e belle arti, b. 362, fasc. “Restauri alla Piramide di Cajo Cestio” [“Restoration of
the Pyramid of Caius Cestius”], 29 ott. 1861–1862; Ragguaglio 1864: 7).
5 E con questa occasione domando perdono all’E [ccellenza] V[ostra] se ardisco ricordarle che a
tempo mio è stata pure fulminata la colonna Antonina e che simile disastro potrebbe rinnovarsi, e
che … sembrami un non profittare dei lumi e degli utili della scienza il lasciare in pericolo manifesto così preziosi monumenti. L’arte può ottenere il suo scopo mascherando opportunamente il
corso del conduttore, ma sempre la sicurezza deve essere il primo pensiero (ASRm, Ministero dei
lavori pubblici, industria, agricoltura, commercio e belle arti, b. 362, fasc. “Restauri alla Piramide
di Cajo Cestio”).
6 (Secchi 1876: 58–59. Mercati 1929: 237. Vian 2016)
16 Secchi’s Science in the Service of the Public