A Lesson in Symmetry

One of the most important principles of design that an artist has to consider is symmetry which creates a balance and a sense of harmony or asymmetry which creates imbalance or gives one section more emphasis than another. The architecture of Rome and much of the environment is full of symmetrical balance.

Piazza del Popolo (People's Square) is a great example of symmetric balance. The piazza itself is oval with two churches at one end and two churches at the other end in two different styles. In ancient Rome this was the start of the road heading to the north. It's current iteration was established in 1822 with an obelisk from Egypt (right of Sety I and Rameses II brought to Rome in 10 BCE. The ancient Romans were quite fond of obelisks as you see them everywhere.

On the long side of the oval is this sculptural group, again symmetrically organized that leads up to the Borghese Gardens.

Looking south from the center of Piazza del Popolo are two churches, Santa Maria in Monsanto (left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right). They were started by architect Carlo Rainaldi in 1662 but completed by Bernini and Carlo Fontana in 1681. At first glance they look symmetrical however the site for the church on the left was smaller so the architects gave it an oval dome while the one on the right has a symmetrically round dome. The cupolas are also slightly different.

The Campidoglio is the piazza at the top of the Capitoline hill. It was an important site in ancient times facing the Forum, but was abandoned after the empire collapsed. In the 12th century it was established as the seat of the municipality and in the 16th century Michelangelo was given the task of redesigning it. It now comprises museums housing ancient Roman works of art as well as some from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque.

This engraving by Etienne Duperac shows Michelangelo's redesign adding the central building to now face St. Peters and the beautifully symmetrical central piazza with the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in the exact center.

The base of the statue was created by Michelangelo, the original (now inside the museum to protect it) statue is from the 2nd century and only survived because it was mistakenly believed to be a statue of Constantine. Below are two portrait busts of Constantine from the 4th century, believed to be the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. These busts can be found inside the museum.