DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0053
VILLA MADAMA.
13
Loggias of the Vatican, while the immediate admission of the sunbeams
so enhances its effect, that it may be preferred to the splendid Marble
Hall of Mantua (Plate 25). The passage in the centre, with its beautiful
curve and rich stuccoes, is crowned by a round dome of a higher elevation
than the groined arches on either side ; and the wide niches under the
latter are subdivided into smaller niches (as may be seen from the plan of
the foregoing Plate), which were formerly adorned with master-pieces of
the Grecian chisel. Between these niches the most tasteful arabesques
adorn the pilasters, and the soffits of archivolt, corresponding with the
larger of these, are richly decorated in stuccoes ; above the smaller niches,
the emblems of the Medici family are placed, and within the niches, and
below them, and along the dado and plinth, delicately-coloured and
veined marbles are imitated. The walls are divided from their domes
by a rich architrave.in stucco, and the spandrils of the centre arch are
filled with an arabesque in stucco, upon an azure ground, in which again
the insignia of Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici are interwoven.1
1 The chief insignia of the Medici family are, first, the diamond ring, to which Leo X. added two
hawks as supporters. Lorenzo adorned it with three feathers of different colours ; sometimes adding the
word SEMPER, according to Paolo Giovio, to signify his constancy in his love of God ;—the three
feathers, white, red, and green, were the cardinal Christian virtues, Faith, Love, and Hope.
Secondly, The yoke used by Leo X. as Cardinal in 1512, after the re-acquisition of Florence for the
Medici, and has often the legend SUAVE, alluding to the scripture “ Jugum meum suave est et onus
meum lente.”
Thirdly, Various objects symbolical of splendour or purity, such as the sun, and his rays, the ball of
crystal, flames of fire, &c. &c., formed part of the insignia of Giulio de’ Medici, (Clement VII.), to which
was added the legend—CANDOR ILLESUS.
See Scipione Ammirato Ritratti d’ Uomini Illustri di Casa Medici ; 1642 : T. iii., p. 13 and 73.
Paolo Giovio ; Dialogo delle Imprese militari ed amorose. Roma, 1555 ; pag. 45.
Little is left of the celebrated Polyphemus painted by Giulio Romano above the niche, under which
is seen the Statue of Hygeia. See Vasari ; T. x., 279 ; Life of Giulio Romano.
The colours of the marbles within the niches are given in the 11th Plate; here it may be sufficient to
say, that the colour of the dice in the large niches is in the centre an imitation of fiamma di francia,
(a fiery red marble), the colour of the dice on each side as well as of the entire plinth is an imitation of
yellow marble, with the exception of the plinth under the rich arch B, which is of violet colour. For
these colours see also add. PI. 1, No. 11.
13
Loggias of the Vatican, while the immediate admission of the sunbeams
so enhances its effect, that it may be preferred to the splendid Marble
Hall of Mantua (Plate 25). The passage in the centre, with its beautiful
curve and rich stuccoes, is crowned by a round dome of a higher elevation
than the groined arches on either side ; and the wide niches under the
latter are subdivided into smaller niches (as may be seen from the plan of
the foregoing Plate), which were formerly adorned with master-pieces of
the Grecian chisel. Between these niches the most tasteful arabesques
adorn the pilasters, and the soffits of archivolt, corresponding with the
larger of these, are richly decorated in stuccoes ; above the smaller niches,
the emblems of the Medici family are placed, and within the niches, and
below them, and along the dado and plinth, delicately-coloured and
veined marbles are imitated. The walls are divided from their domes
by a rich architrave.in stucco, and the spandrils of the centre arch are
filled with an arabesque in stucco, upon an azure ground, in which again
the insignia of Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici are interwoven.1
1 The chief insignia of the Medici family are, first, the diamond ring, to which Leo X. added two
hawks as supporters. Lorenzo adorned it with three feathers of different colours ; sometimes adding the
word SEMPER, according to Paolo Giovio, to signify his constancy in his love of God ;—the three
feathers, white, red, and green, were the cardinal Christian virtues, Faith, Love, and Hope.
Secondly, The yoke used by Leo X. as Cardinal in 1512, after the re-acquisition of Florence for the
Medici, and has often the legend SUAVE, alluding to the scripture “ Jugum meum suave est et onus
meum lente.”
Thirdly, Various objects symbolical of splendour or purity, such as the sun, and his rays, the ball of
crystal, flames of fire, &c. &c., formed part of the insignia of Giulio de’ Medici, (Clement VII.), to which
was added the legend—CANDOR ILLESUS.
See Scipione Ammirato Ritratti d’ Uomini Illustri di Casa Medici ; 1642 : T. iii., p. 13 and 73.
Paolo Giovio ; Dialogo delle Imprese militari ed amorose. Roma, 1555 ; pag. 45.
Little is left of the celebrated Polyphemus painted by Giulio Romano above the niche, under which
is seen the Statue of Hygeia. See Vasari ; T. x., 279 ; Life of Giulio Romano.
The colours of the marbles within the niches are given in the 11th Plate; here it may be sufficient to
say, that the colour of the dice in the large niches is in the centre an imitation of fiamma di francia,
(a fiery red marble), the colour of the dice on each side as well as of the entire plinth is an imitation of
yellow marble, with the exception of the plinth under the rich arch B, which is of violet colour. For
these colours see also add. PI. 1, No. 11.