drawingdetail: Detail from the Pianta Grande di Roma, now universally known as the Nolli Map, by Giambattista Nolli. Nolli began surveying in 1736 and engraved the map in 1748. Using a figure-ground representation of built space with blocks and building shaded in a dark poché, Nolli represents enclosed public spaces such as the colonnades in St. Peter’s Square and the Pantheon as open civic spaces. The map was a significant improvement in accuracy, even noting the asymmetry of the Spanish Steps. The map was used in government planning for the city of Rome until the 1970s. (Source: Wikipedia)

drawingdetail:

Detail from the Pianta Grande di Roma, now universally known as the Nolli Map, by Giambattista Nolli. Nolli began surveying in 1736 and engraved the map in 1748.

Using a figure-ground representation of built space with blocks and building shaded in a dark poché, Nolli represents enclosed public spaces such as the colonnades in St. Peter’s Square and the Pantheon as open civic spaces. The map was a significant improvement in accuracy, even noting the asymmetry of the Spanish Steps. The map was used in government planning for the city of Rome until the 1970s. (Source: Wikipedia)