The Arch of Constantine in Rome
Presenters
Austen LaRocca, Rutgers University
Abstract
In the words of Benito
Mussolini, the Arch of Constantine “looms large” within the landscape of Rome.
Today, the monument stands in a pedestrian area, surrounded by a single fence,
making its current urban situation one of visual access. Unlike the nearby
Roman Forum and Colosseum, the viewing experience of the Arch of Constantine
costs nothing. But, beneath this accessibility lies a deeply fascist urban
positioning.
The open space around the
Arch of Constantine is the result of a fascist urban plan that reimagined the
historic center of Rome as a set piece for imperial display. In particular the
Via di San Gregorio and the Via dell’Impero feature the arch in a manner that
accentuates its linearity and imposing form. This new streetscape enabled the
arch to regularly serve as a centerpiece for parades, especially those of
international significance such as the 1933 celebration for Italo Balbo or the
1936 visit of Adolf Hitler. The Arch of Constantine also regularly provided a
backdrop for images of youths, in a powerful anachronistic montage of imperial
past and fascist future. The prominence of the Arch of Constantine in the
Mostra Augustea—as an inspiration for the exhibit’s façade, as a centrally
placed architectural model, and as an image in a photomontage linking ancient
and modern arches—further demonstrates the monument's significance in fascist
ideology.
Though studies of fascist
Romanità abound, the role of the Arch of Constantine and its heritage merit
closer scrutiny. This paper will use historical photographs, posters, and
comparative evidence to situate the arch more firmly within the fascist streetscape
of Rome and examine the echoes of this ideology in its current urban situation.
AIA-3G