DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0065
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VILLA PONIATOWSKY.
PLATE 13.
DECORATIONS OF A CEILING IN THE VILLA PONIATOWSKY, NOW VILLA GIORGI.
Close to the villa built by Pope Julius III., known under the name of
“ Villa di Papa Giulio,” is situated an elegant casino, late the property of
Prince Poniatowsky, so well known as a munificent patron of art ; the
building may have been erected and adorned in the Sixteenth century,
but for whom and at what precise time is not known ; its present owner
is Signor Giorgi, who keeps it in admirable order. The house, of which
we have here given the ceiling and sections of the principal room or
saloon, is situated on an elevated terrace, to which an open staircase of
classic proportions leads through fragments of antique sculpture. From
this terrace there is an interesting view of St. Peter’s, Monte Mario, with
the Villa Madama, and the suburbs of Rome.
The distribution of the ceiling before us is very tasteful : the central
painting, which is supposed to be in tapestry, represents the visit of
Queen Sheba to Solomon. The manner in which this picture is treated,
the gay, ornamental flowers and foliage, mixing fancifully with animals
and infant genii, on a white ground, give to the whole that lightness
which is so desirable in decorations of this kind ; the centre-piece and all
the soffits are bordered with wreaths of jasmine. The spandrils are
adorned by allegorical personifications of plenty, victory, the chase, and
other similar figures, each surrounded by a wreath of foliage. The small
soffits of the arches are equally rich in Pompeian arabesques, which style
is strikingly imitated in the lunettes of the walls. From all we know of
the works of Balthazar Peruzzi, and in particular from an examination
of his finest paintings in the villa Belcaro, near Siena, we are warranted
in ascribing the decoration of the room in question to that celebrated
artist.1
1 The arabesques in the title-page are from Villa Belcaro. For the colours of the archivolts, see the
additional plate A. No. 14.
VILLA PONIATOWSKY.
PLATE 13.
DECORATIONS OF A CEILING IN THE VILLA PONIATOWSKY, NOW VILLA GIORGI.
Close to the villa built by Pope Julius III., known under the name of
“ Villa di Papa Giulio,” is situated an elegant casino, late the property of
Prince Poniatowsky, so well known as a munificent patron of art ; the
building may have been erected and adorned in the Sixteenth century,
but for whom and at what precise time is not known ; its present owner
is Signor Giorgi, who keeps it in admirable order. The house, of which
we have here given the ceiling and sections of the principal room or
saloon, is situated on an elevated terrace, to which an open staircase of
classic proportions leads through fragments of antique sculpture. From
this terrace there is an interesting view of St. Peter’s, Monte Mario, with
the Villa Madama, and the suburbs of Rome.
The distribution of the ceiling before us is very tasteful : the central
painting, which is supposed to be in tapestry, represents the visit of
Queen Sheba to Solomon. The manner in which this picture is treated,
the gay, ornamental flowers and foliage, mixing fancifully with animals
and infant genii, on a white ground, give to the whole that lightness
which is so desirable in decorations of this kind ; the centre-piece and all
the soffits are bordered with wreaths of jasmine. The spandrils are
adorned by allegorical personifications of plenty, victory, the chase, and
other similar figures, each surrounded by a wreath of foliage. The small
soffits of the arches are equally rich in Pompeian arabesques, which style
is strikingly imitated in the lunettes of the walls. From all we know of
the works of Balthazar Peruzzi, and in particular from an examination
of his finest paintings in the villa Belcaro, near Siena, we are warranted
in ascribing the decoration of the room in question to that celebrated
artist.1
1 The arabesques in the title-page are from Villa Belcaro. For the colours of the archivolts, see the
additional plate A. No. 14.