DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0057
VILLA MADAMA.
15
colours, while similar, hut very small, figures of white stucco are on a
lilac ground. Beyond this circle, a rich flower arabesque fills the
spandrils of the arches ; two of them, diagonally opposite each other,
are surmounted by the cardinal’s hat; the two others are mixed up
with human figures. * The arabesques are white stucco upon azure,
picked out with gold, like most of the stucco ornaments in the hall,
particularly all the egg-mouldings, and the extreme circle with the small
stars and dentils. Equally elegant designs may be observed on the
soffits of the arches, which divide this part from the two groined vaults;
the centre of each soffit is decorated with a cassoon, in which mythologie
subjects are introduced in stucco, in a light green ground. In one,
Apollo as vanquisher is represented. In the other, Jupiter and Europa.
PLATE 9.
DECORATIONS OF THE GROINED CEILING.
CO OF THE PLAN.]
In the centre of this beautiful ceiling appears Neptune on a shell,
drawn by two sea-horses. This composition corresponds with Amphitrite
in the centre of the other ceiling, and is wrought in high-relief of white
stucco, with golden rays upon an azure ground. The brilliant red in
which the ground of the long panels on the groinings are painted, gives
to the whole a very gay appearance, and sets off the white ground
between them to the greatest advantage. Upon this red ground delicate
stuccoes and paintings are placed, each having a Victory for its principal
figure, corresponding, perhaps, to a trophy in the spandril surrounded by
a rich garland of fruit. To relieve the monotony of the white ground on
the curved sides of each wall, a variety of brilliantly-coloured arabesques
are introduced, while each centre is adorned with a medallion of an oval
form ; the one represents the gardens of Venus from the description by
15
colours, while similar, hut very small, figures of white stucco are on a
lilac ground. Beyond this circle, a rich flower arabesque fills the
spandrils of the arches ; two of them, diagonally opposite each other,
are surmounted by the cardinal’s hat; the two others are mixed up
with human figures. * The arabesques are white stucco upon azure,
picked out with gold, like most of the stucco ornaments in the hall,
particularly all the egg-mouldings, and the extreme circle with the small
stars and dentils. Equally elegant designs may be observed on the
soffits of the arches, which divide this part from the two groined vaults;
the centre of each soffit is decorated with a cassoon, in which mythologie
subjects are introduced in stucco, in a light green ground. In one,
Apollo as vanquisher is represented. In the other, Jupiter and Europa.
PLATE 9.
DECORATIONS OF THE GROINED CEILING.
CO OF THE PLAN.]
In the centre of this beautiful ceiling appears Neptune on a shell,
drawn by two sea-horses. This composition corresponds with Amphitrite
in the centre of the other ceiling, and is wrought in high-relief of white
stucco, with golden rays upon an azure ground. The brilliant red in
which the ground of the long panels on the groinings are painted, gives
to the whole a very gay appearance, and sets off the white ground
between them to the greatest advantage. Upon this red ground delicate
stuccoes and paintings are placed, each having a Victory for its principal
figure, corresponding, perhaps, to a trophy in the spandril surrounded by
a rich garland of fruit. To relieve the monotony of the white ground on
the curved sides of each wall, a variety of brilliantly-coloured arabesques
are introduced, while each centre is adorned with a medallion of an oval
form ; the one represents the gardens of Venus from the description by