IL “NON-FINITO” NELL’ARCHITETTURA ANTICA: LA FORMA DEL CANTIERE CHE TRASMUTA IN ESTETICA?

Abstract

The theme of the “unfinished” in ancient architecture, here assumes and hypothesizes how the shape of
the yard (intended as a formal repetition and transmission of good building practices common to most ancient
yards) can transmute into aesthetics, and transforms purely or essentially morphological elements into
something else iconic /“stylistic” in nature. The analysis starts from the period of the so-called Claudian
ashlar style, investigating the relationships that this phenomenon may have also developed in other areas of
culture: in particular in the linguistic-literary field. Following this, the research extends to other historical
and monumental contexts, from the 5th century BC in the Greek world to the Late Imperial Age. In this
study it has been attempted to recognize a common thread unifying the testimonies examined; and this is
identified in the construction of an aesthetic language, built on the imitation of the elements of a yard in the
phases of its realization.