«Si sono mandati architetti et ingegneri a pigliar il dissegno del nuovo ponte». The construction site of the Felice bridge from Matteo Bartolani to Domenico Fontana (1589-1592)

Abstract

The study focuses on the construction of the Felice bridge at Borghetto affair, which represents an exemplary case as to analyse Domenico Fontana’s construction site procedures. The works started in 1589, under the architect Matteo Bartolano’s supervision, and when he died the works were assigned to Domenico Fontana. However, with the passing away of Pope Sixtus V, (1590) the construction site remained inactive until 1592, and started again with the intervention of Pope Clement VIII. 

The aim of the study has been to remedy the lack of studies on the operating procedures, the techniques, as well the role of the workforce involved in the construction works. Through the examination of archive documents, attempts have been made to shed light on other aspects of Fontana’s activity in particular with regard to the organisation chart of his business: the types of expertise of the various workforce and the various professionals tasked with measuring, estimating and counting. What have been further investigated are the mechanisms with which the Ticino architect earned and paid salaries as well as the particular derogations which his accounts benefitted from and what should have been presented beforehand, examined and sworn by the Camera Apostolica. One other aspect which has been highlighted is the method of financing. However, the construction site failure of the Felice bridge during the pontificate of Clement VIII, led to the assessment of Fontana’s accounts, which appears from some notarial acts. There after tender dossiers were stipulated by the Camera Apostolica with new enterprises excluding Fontana from the works he had previously designed and supervised. In conclusion the documents shed new light on the last period of his time in Rome and explain the various reasons as to why he decided to move to Naples.