A Temple in Rimini

1903-12-19

J.G. writes from Florence about his trip so far.  He has been traveling with fellow-architect Lawrence Hall Fowler, and they have already seen Giotto's Arena Chapel frescoes in Padua, as well as the early-Christian mosaics in Ravenna.  J.G. says "I don’t suppose it can be applied directly to a  N.Y. office building or anything which we would be apt to build but it’s good fun to see."

The two friends spent several days measuring the outside of the Tempio Malatestiano in Rimini. J.G. writes:"You should see me on a ladder some 40 feet off the ground taking measurements. I’m getting quite good at it now and the ladders are comfortable affairs with side rails and run up from a heavy wagon so that they are very steady and you need not worry in the least..."

Claude Bragdon wrote about the Malatesta Temple in 1905, just after J.G.'s death, and the architecture of MAG's original 1913 building reflects decorative elements from this masterpiece by Leon Battista Alberti.  

J.G. and Fowler also traveled through Bologna & Venice (where there was flooding) before arriving at Florence. 

J.G. returned home from this trip in March 1904, sailing on the Kaiser Wilhelm II from Southampton.