Reading St. Peter’s Basilica. Truth and Reconstruction

The narrative surrounding San Pietro has been subject to extensive scholarly scrutiny, offering diverse interpretations through its rich history of graphical and literary dissemination. This intertwining of architecture and text extends the philological concept of an “original” text to architectural entities, prompting critical assessments of individual projects and their alignment with original intentions. This reflection suggests that architecture, like textual narratives, can embody idealized representations. At the heart of San Pietro’s construction narrative are two central figures: Michelangelo Buonarroti, advocate of the seminal design proposal, and Tiberio Alfarano, historian striving to immortalize the imagery of the antique basilica amid demolition. Michelangelo’s pursuit of architectural authenticity contrasts with Alfarano’s endeavor to reconstruct the lost narrative of the former San Pietro, reflecting an interplay between historical retrospection and forward-thinking design. San Pietro serves as a historical exemplar, illustrating how architectural truth is established retrospectively and prospectively, shaping historiography through graphical and textual mediums. This discourse underscores two key tenets: the tangible benchmark of actualized architecture versus the potential of future realizations, and the challenge of reconstructing demolished history amidst fragmented narratives. In the endeavor to reconstruct the Basilica of San Pietro, scholars must navigate a multitude of sources spanning temporal progression, confronting fundamental questions about architectural historiography, demonstrating the need of symbiotic relationship between truth and dynamism in understanding and interpreting architectural heritage.