«Senza togliere l’antico». La trasformazione settecentesca di Santa Maria Maggiore a Ferentino agli albori del Neogotico in Italia

My research deals with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Ferentino (in the modern province of Frosinone), one ofthe most important buildings erected in southern Lazio during the thirteenth century. At the end of the eighteenth century(1796-1800), restoration works were started and completed according to Pietro Cocumelli’s design and LuigiCampovecchio’s suggestions. New unpublished documentation found during my investigation let to understand the philosophy of this modern intervention on the medieval building. The project could be considered as an early example of neo-Gothic historicism. It aims to give the building a homogeneous look and is directly inspired, in some respects, by thirteenth-century architectural elements (polystyle pillars, groin vaults, capitals, etc.).