Giovanni Battista Piranesi was born 4 October 1720.
Although very little of his designs were actually executed
in built form, Piranesi nonetheless often signed his work
with the title of architect. For example, the frontispiece
of Le Antichita Romane volume II contains a signature plaque
with the architect designation --
www.quondam.com/temp/signature.jpg . When I started working
on Prince of Traffic (part 2 now complete --
www.quondam.com/temp/viaappia.jpg ) I had no idea the
original print depicted a fantastical view of the Appian
Way. It really is something like a funerary "rush hour."
And how about Mount St. Helens "fuming" in the news again.
Wasn't aware of the coincidence before, but 18 May 1980,
when Mount St. Helens last exploded, was also my mother's
56th birthday. My maternal grandmother once told me about
the fire alarm being sounded in Brestowatz, Yugoslavia on 18
May 1924. The Danube had begun to break its banks, thus an
emergency call for all men in the region was sounded. "Well,
that sure explains Mom."
Personally, I see the recent volcanic activity in Washington
State as a sign that 'Happy Birthday Helena Augusta' hit its
mark, especially since I (embarrassingly remember that I)
forgot my own mother's birthday 18 May 1980.
Death of Marcel Duchamp 2 October 1968.
Birth of Giovanni Battista Piranesi 4 October 1720.
Birth of Le Corbusier 6 October 1887.
Death of Otto I of Bavaria 11 October 1916.
Napoleon's arrival at St. Helena Island 15 October 1815.
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