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Lunchtime Photo

Published on 25 Comments on Lunchtime Photo

This is the the fabulous Victor Emmanuel II National Monument at the Piazza Venezia, built (mostly) in the first decade of the 20th century to honor the first king of unified Italy. Opinion varies about the artistic merit of the monument, ranging from "ugh" to "hideous POS."

But I say: a pox on all your houses. If you're going to build a monument in Rome to your first king, then it ought to at least match the popes and the Caesars in grandiose pretentiousness. That's tough competition!

So count me a fan. It wouldn't work in every city—though you can find stuff just as gaudy in a whole lot of them—but it works in Rome. This picture was taken at 3 in the morning on one of my late night/early morning strolls, the only time it was cool enough that I could manage to walk around outside for more than about half an hour.

July 31, 2021 — Rome, Italy

25 thoughts on “Lunchtime Photo”

  1. D_Ohrk_E1

    Grandiose pretentiousness is one thing; it's an entirely a different matter to apply a millenia-old architectural style to celebrate a 19th century fella, surrounded by 14-18th century architecture.

  2. rick_jones

    This picture was taken at 3 in the morning on one of my late night/early morning strolls, the only time it was cool enough that I could manage to walk around outside for more than about half an hour.Said heat wave having been attributed to global warming.

  3. Salamander

    It looks good to me. Is there some kind of law about what "architectural style" is required for each given time period? Do we need to start hating on the US Capitol building (and the innumerable state capitols that mimic it) now, too?

    1. D_Ohrk_E1

      The US Capitol may be neo-classically inspired with elements borrowed from Romans, but it is transformative. No one would mistake it for structures built by the Greeks and Romans, least of all the rotunda.

    2. mudwall jackson

      if you approach florida's capitol straight on from apalachee parkway, it looks like a dick and two balls. seriously.

  7. J. Frank Parnell

    Ah, the giant type writer. Loved it as a teenager in 65, now not so much. I suppose one is okay, but you wouldn’t want any more of the things. A little bit (not too mention a whole lot) of “neoclassic with eclectic influences” goes a long way.

  10. ProgressOne

    I went to Rome about three years ago and learned of that building when there. I thought it was spectacular. I didn't read up on what critics thought, and I don't care.

    I've been to large modern art museums filled with pointless things that random, untrained people could have come up with , and some art critics are praising these items as if they are brilliant art. So those are the last people I want to hear from about whether something has artistic or architectural merit.

    1. Salamander

      "I didn't read up on what critics thought, and I don't care."

      A person after my own heart! Also, bear in mind that fashions change and it's likely that within a decade, these same critics will be praising what they formerly trashed. Were they right then? Now? Ever? (snort)

  12. cld

    If you went to sleep and woke up on the lawn in front of that building you'd think, well, finally, a dream I can understand.

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