Monday, December 29, 2008

Scala J.J. Winckelmann

The Johann Joachim Winckelmann steps take you from Piazza del Sansovino up to San Giusto castle.

Winckelmann, a scholar of ancient history and classic art and deemed the founder of modern history of art and father of archaeology, unfortunately met his death in Trieste.
On his way back from a trip to Vienna, where he had been to a reception held in his honour by the Empress Maria Theresa, Winckelmann spent some time in Trieste, waiting to board the next craft to set sail for Rome. He was staying at an inn called the Locanda Grande, when he met a chef called Francesco Arcangeli. The chef subsequently attacked him with a knife on the morning of June 8th 1768, to rob him of the medals that Maria Theresa had given him. Winckelmann died after seven hours of agony. His murderer was then killed 42 days later at the same time, in front of the very same inn.

9 comments:

Hilda said...

What a story. Very interesting but so violent (like much of history, really).

Just looking at those steps is making my thighs ache…

VP said...

Amazing "pearl" Rob, and what a steep steps!

abc said...

Impressive steps nicely captured

The Good Life in Virginia said...

interesting post...thanks for sharing that bit of history with us...amazng shot.

Bolina Stretta said...

Un' altra scalinata, stupenda. Molto interessante la storia stessa, che credo pochi conoscano. Bravo !

(di ritorno dalla pausa Nataliza, ricomincio a postare con domani.)

CeciliaGallerani said...

I had no idea Winckelmann died like that! Are these stairs near the spot where he was attacked, or just in his honor?

I like what the parked cars add to this shot.

magiceye said...

lovely perspective

Federico said...

Wow! Those stairs are incredible. Interesting story too.

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