DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0267
GIULIO ROMANO
239
ing policy, and refused to declare himself openly on
either side. Since Mantua remained at peace, and
Federico’s presence in the field was not required,
Isabella now decided to go to Rome herself, and
ask the Pope for Ercole’s Cardinal’s hat in person.
Before her departure she had the pleasure of seeing
Castiglione, who came back to Mantua and took leave
of his mother and children before his departure for
Spain, towards the end of December. He brought
with him, at Federico’s request, the painter Giulio
Romano, the pupil of Raphael, 64 whom I love,” he
wrote to the Pope, “every bit as much, now he is dead,
as when he was alive.” And the Count also brought
Isabella a model of a beautiful villa and spacious
gardens, which had been designed by Michel Angelo
Federico admired these plans immensely, and declared
his intention of building a similar palace at Marmirolo,
where he had lately erected a sumptuous theatre and
other splendid buildings.1 This scheme, however,
seems to have been abandoned, and Giulio Romano,
who now took up his abode at Mantua, began to build
his famous palace of the Te, on the marshy ground
outside the Pusterla Gate, formerly occupied by the
Marquis Francesco’s stables.
In those days the handsome young Marquis was
passionately in love with Isabella Boschetti, whose
fair face and form may still be seen in the Psyche,
painted by Messer Giulio’s hand, whom we see
reigning supreme amid the goddesses on the ceiling
of the Palazzo del Te. And it was for his mistress
that Federico built the noble Palazzo della Giustizia,
which was also decorated with paintings by the
hand of his favourite master. Isabella bore him
1 Luzio e Renier, Manto va, p. 257.
239
ing policy, and refused to declare himself openly on
either side. Since Mantua remained at peace, and
Federico’s presence in the field was not required,
Isabella now decided to go to Rome herself, and
ask the Pope for Ercole’s Cardinal’s hat in person.
Before her departure she had the pleasure of seeing
Castiglione, who came back to Mantua and took leave
of his mother and children before his departure for
Spain, towards the end of December. He brought
with him, at Federico’s request, the painter Giulio
Romano, the pupil of Raphael, 64 whom I love,” he
wrote to the Pope, “every bit as much, now he is dead,
as when he was alive.” And the Count also brought
Isabella a model of a beautiful villa and spacious
gardens, which had been designed by Michel Angelo
Federico admired these plans immensely, and declared
his intention of building a similar palace at Marmirolo,
where he had lately erected a sumptuous theatre and
other splendid buildings.1 This scheme, however,
seems to have been abandoned, and Giulio Romano,
who now took up his abode at Mantua, began to build
his famous palace of the Te, on the marshy ground
outside the Pusterla Gate, formerly occupied by the
Marquis Francesco’s stables.
In those days the handsome young Marquis was
passionately in love with Isabella Boschetti, whose
fair face and form may still be seen in the Psyche,
painted by Messer Giulio’s hand, whom we see
reigning supreme amid the goddesses on the ceiling
of the Palazzo del Te. And it was for his mistress
that Federico built the noble Palazzo della Giustizia,
which was also decorated with paintings by the
hand of his favourite master. Isabella bore him
1 Luzio e Renier, Manto va, p. 257.