J.M TURNER TRA PRATAPORCI E LE VILLE TUSCOLANE
Turner
sapeva bene cosa visitare ai Castelli Romani, Frascati e Prata Porcia in
primis. Già proprio Prata Porci che da qualche anno ha perso la sua
denominazione per trovare una più “elegante” definizione in Pietra Porzia!. Sul
grande pittore inglese in visita ai Castelli romani abbiamo già scritto a
proposito del suo interesse per Cicerone e le Tusculane disputationes e della
sua della collaborazione con Hakewill per il libro A Picturesque Tour of Italy:
From Drawings Made in 1816-1817, London 1820.
Ma è stata una vera sorpresa trovare
la citazione della contrada di Prata porci. Dai taccuini emerge ben chiaro
insemen ad una lista di luoghi dei Castelli romani annotati non solo a parole
ma anche con piccoli disegni tratti dalle da alcune stampe disegnate da John
‘Warwick’ Smith e incise da William Byrne. 
Questo è il testo “To Frascati Monte Catone Prata Porcia | Lake
Regillus Mt Agidus Preneste – | Horatii and Curatii supposed to be Cneius | Pompey
Aricia or La Riccia ancient | [?hill]-town. some arches and circular building |
Via Appia. 1 mile Madonna de Galloro. | 2 miles hence Gensano and Lake of Nemi
| Nemus Diana. Castle and Town on a rock | Monte Giove Jovis Monte Artemisio. |
Fountain of Egeria Palace of Nero Trajan | [?vessel] Abbey of St Paolo Roca del
Papa | on the Alban Mount above a plain Campo | Annibale and Abby and Convent
now occupies | the scite of the Jupiter Latiaris | Antium Nettuno its port
^Ostia^ Asturia and Mouth | of Tiber on one side Astura and Circe’s promontory
| the other Ruins of Pompey, Villa Ostia ^once^ port | of Rome, mouth of the
Tiber. hills wooded 6 Miles | Paterno Tower once Larintium | Road to Naples.
Albano Velletri at Torre d tre | Ponti some remains of columns
inscriptions& c | Pontine marshes 30 M River Ufens & Amasenus | Rock of
Anxur Volscian Mt Cora Sezza Piperno | Wall and two Doric Temples at Cora. |
River Amasenus Terachina Terracina on the | [?eminence] of Anxor still remains
2 Squares the | temple of Jupiter and Apollo popes palace | 6 Miles S of
Terracina a defile called Passo di Portella. Tower and Gate Barrier Torre del
Epitaff | io” (parentesi
e interpunzioni sono degli studiosi che hanno prubblicato gli studi sui
taccuini). Ed
ecco il testo descrittivo dato alle stampe con Hakewill per il A Picturesque
Tour of Italy: Frascati antiently
bore the name of Tusculum. It was to this place the proud Tarquin retired when
expelled from his kingdom by the indignant spirit of the Roman people; and from
hence he carried on that war which is so celebrated in the annals of liberty.
The day of retribution however was at hand; and in the course of time the
Tusculaus were compelled, after a spirited resistance, to surrender their
liberties to the armies of republican Rome. During the period the city was
under her dominion, it may boast of having given birth to two of the best men
of the times, Quintus Cincinnatus, and Cato the Censor; and of having been the
residence of a still more illustrious personage, namely, M. Tullius Cicero, who
composed in his villa at this place the immortal Tusculan disputations. The
natural beauties of its scenery had at that time attracted the notice of many
of the more wealthy Romans, and the environs of Tusculum abounded with splendid
villas. Tusculum was destined to suffer still harder treatment from the modern
Romans than it had before experienced from the ancient: the Pope, who held it as
a fief from the Emperor of Germany (or King of the Romans), had granted to it
so many liberties, as to render the place an object of jealousy to the
municipality of Rome; and after a long war between the two cities, which
occupied great part of the twelfth century, he gave it up to them, in order to
put an end to the constant dissensions which it occasioned between himself and
his own people. The city was then razed to the ground, and the wretched
inhabitants, deprived of their homes, retired to a spot in the suburbs, and
where they dwelt for some time in rude huts constructed of the materials which
the neighbouring woods afforded: it is indeed from this circumstance (the word
/rosea signifying the bough of a tree), that the modern name of Frascati is supposed
to have been derived. Its delightful situation has again proved an object of
attraction to the Romans, and Frascati is one of the most favourite places of
retirement from the city during the heats of the summer season. Amongst many
others, the villa of the late Cardinal d'York was situated here. Ancient
Tusculum was considered an almost impregnable fortress; but it may be added,
that its site is imagined to have been higher on the hill than the FRASCATI. spot
where the modern town stands: Lucullus's villa is generally considered to have
occupied that spot. The cupola of St. Peter's, and the outline of the city of
Rome, are seen in the more distant parts of the view, together with a branch of
the Appennines, running towards the sea on the west.” J.M.
Turner era un gran camminatore e faceva molta attenzione alla luminosità dei
luoghi anche per i piccoli schizzi che faceva d’abitudine ovunque, nei Castelli
immaginiamo si sia fermato più di qualche giorno fermato qualche giorno a Frascati visita e coglie i panorami da Villa
Aldobrandini, Mondragone, Villa Taverna e Villa Lancellotti. Gli schizzi sono
alla sua maniera, abbozzati, con pochi tratti fatti in velocità, nervosamente.
Ma è stata una vera sorpresa trovare
la citazione della contrada di Prata porci. Dai taccuini emerge ben chiaro
insemen ad una lista di luoghi dei Castelli romani annotati non solo a parole
ma anche con piccoli disegni tratti dalle da alcune stampe disegnate da John
‘Warwick’ Smith e incise da William Byrne. Questo è il testo “To Frascati Monte Catone Prata Porcia | Lake
Regillus Mt Agidus Preneste – | Horatii and Curatii supposed to be Cneius | Pompey
Aricia or La Riccia ancient | [?hill]-town. some arches and circular building |
Via Appia. 1 mile Madonna de Galloro. | 2 miles hence Gensano and Lake of Nemi
| Nemus Diana. Castle and Town on a rock | Monte Giove Jovis Monte Artemisio. |
Fountain of Egeria Palace of Nero Trajan | [?vessel] Abbey of St Paolo Roca del
Papa | on the Alban Mount above a plain Campo | Annibale and Abby and Convent
now occupies | the scite of the Jupiter Latiaris | Antium Nettuno its port
^Ostia^ Asturia and Mouth | of Tiber on one side Astura and Circe’s promontory
| the other Ruins of Pompey, Villa Ostia ^once^ port | of Rome, mouth of the
Tiber. hills wooded 6 Miles | Paterno Tower once Larintium | Road to Naples.
Albano Velletri at Torre d tre | Ponti some remains of columns
inscriptions& c | Pontine marshes 30 M River Ufens & Amasenus | Rock of
Anxur Volscian Mt Cora Sezza Piperno | Wall and two Doric Temples at Cora. |
River Amasenus Terachina Terracina on the | [?eminence] of Anxor still remains
2 Squares the | temple of Jupiter and Apollo popes palace | 6 Miles S of
Terracina a defile called Passo di Portella. Tower and Gate Barrier Torre del
Epitaff | io” (parentesi
e interpunzioni sono degli studiosi che hanno prubblicato gli studi sui
taccuini). Ed
ecco il testo descrittivo dato alle stampe con Hakewill per il A Picturesque
Tour of Italy: Frascati antiently
bore the name of Tusculum. It was to this place the proud Tarquin retired when
expelled from his kingdom by the indignant spirit of the Roman people; and from
hence he carried on that war which is so celebrated in the annals of liberty.
The day of retribution however was at hand; and in the course of time the
Tusculaus were compelled, after a spirited resistance, to surrender their
liberties to the armies of republican Rome. During the period the city was
under her dominion, it may boast of having given birth to two of the best men
of the times, Quintus Cincinnatus, and Cato the Censor; and of having been the
residence of a still more illustrious personage, namely, M. Tullius Cicero, who
composed in his villa at this place the immortal Tusculan disputations. The
natural beauties of its scenery had at that time attracted the notice of many
of the more wealthy Romans, and the environs of Tusculum abounded with splendid
villas. Tusculum was destined to suffer still harder treatment from the modern
Romans than it had before experienced from the ancient: the Pope, who held it as
a fief from the Emperor of Germany (or King of the Romans), had granted to it
so many liberties, as to render the place an object of jealousy to the
municipality of Rome; and after a long war between the two cities, which
occupied great part of the twelfth century, he gave it up to them, in order to
put an end to the constant dissensions which it occasioned between himself and
his own people. The city was then razed to the ground, and the wretched
inhabitants, deprived of their homes, retired to a spot in the suburbs, and
where they dwelt for some time in rude huts constructed of the materials which
the neighbouring woods afforded: it is indeed from this circumstance (the word
/rosea signifying the bough of a tree), that the modern name of Frascati is supposed
to have been derived. Its delightful situation has again proved an object of
attraction to the Romans, and Frascati is one of the most favourite places of
retirement from the city during the heats of the summer season. Amongst many
others, the villa of the late Cardinal d'York was situated here. Ancient
Tusculum was considered an almost impregnable fortress; but it may be added,
that its site is imagined to have been higher on the hill than the FRASCATI. spot
where the modern town stands: Lucullus's villa is generally considered to have
occupied that spot. The cupola of St. Peter's, and the outline of the city of
Rome, are seen in the more distant parts of the view, together with a branch of
the Appennines, running towards the sea on the west.” J.M.
Turner era un gran camminatore e faceva molta attenzione alla luminosità dei
luoghi anche per i piccoli schizzi che faceva d’abitudine ovunque, nei Castelli
immaginiamo si sia fermato più di qualche giorno fermato qualche giorno a Frascati visita e coglie i panorami da Villa
Aldobrandini, Mondragone, Villa Taverna e Villa Lancellotti. Gli schizzi sono
alla sua maniera, abbozzati, con pochi tratti fatti in velocità, nervosamente.
Ecco alcuni disegni tratti dai taccuini conservati alla Tate Gallery di Londra
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