Römisches Haus - Sommersitz Herzog Carl August

Description

On the steeply sloping hill of the Park an der Ilm, the Roman House was built from 1791 to 1797 under the direction of Johann Wolfgang Goethe as a refuge for Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach. The plans for the Roman House were drawn up by the Hamburg architect Johann August Arens. From the entrance side, the building presents itself as a stylobate prostyle with a four-columned Ionic portico. Viewed from the Ilm meadow, one sees a rusticated base whose hall is supported by massive Doric columns. The temple-like building gives the impression as if it were built on the ruins of an ancient structure. Inspired by the villa structures in the vicinity of Rome, the Roman House is considered a classicist "model house" of Goethe´s architectural theoretical reflections in the context of his Italian journey. The interior design of the Roman House was entrusted to Christian Friedrich Schuricht from Dresden. The execution of the wall and ceiling paintings was carried out by Goethe´s friend and art advisor Johann Heinrich Meyer. At the center of the depictions are Apollo with the Muses and Pegasus. The gable field above the portico of the main entrance on the west side features a relief created by Johann Peter Kaufmann in 1819 with allegories for science and art as well as agriculture, guarded by a genius. After the comprehensive restoration of the Roman House in 1999, all furnishings were omitted, as the original furnishings could not be reconstructed. Thus, today one has an unobstructed view of the classicist interior decoration. Visitors can view the portico, which also served as a dining room, the Blue Salon, the venue for festive social gatherings, and the Yellow Salon, the Duke´s study. The adjoining rooms were used as bedrooms and dressing rooms. On the lower floor, an exhibition presents the development of the Park an der Ilm since the late 18th century.