DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0068
PALAZZO MONTALTO.
21
PLATE 14.
VESTIBÜLE IN THE PALAZZO MONTALTO,
(near SA. MA. DELLA PACE.)
This small palace, in the immediate neighbourhood of St. Damaso, in
Parione, in the street of the same name, was originally built for the
clergy of the “ Nazione Picenna,” inhabitants of the Marca d’Ancona, hut
has received the appellation under which it is now known, since Cardinal
Montalto, afterwards Sixtus V., a member of the same clerical body,
inhabited it. Although it belonged from the earliest times to this
society, its present improved construction is attributed to Balthazar
Peruzzi. Its fresco decorations are of very different epochs, but it is
probable that the vestibule only, now almost destroyed, belongs to the
time of that architect ; the remaining decorations are more or less in a '
false taste, as, in particular, the richly-painted court on the first floor.
Most of the rooms of the same story are also painted ; many have the
armorial bearings of the prelates who resided here, among which are
the arms of Pope Marcellus II. Of the later paintings, none are more
interesting or better than those in a small cabinet representing the
labours of Hercules, elegant arabesques, and rich gildings ; these appear
to be among the better works of the Zuccari, and of the tune of Sixtus V.
The decorations of the arched ceiling of the small vestibule, which
is given in this Plate, are similar in design to the foregoing, although
of smaller dimensions. The signs of the zodiac, filling the soffits of
the arches, were favourite subjects in the ornamental painting of the
time. The candelabras in the spandrils are of great elegance, as are
also the decorations on the archivolts, of which, however, very little is
left; nearly one-half of the ceiling has been destroyed, owing to the
division of the vestibule by a wall, and the whitewashing of the smaller
portion.
21
PLATE 14.
VESTIBÜLE IN THE PALAZZO MONTALTO,
(near SA. MA. DELLA PACE.)
This small palace, in the immediate neighbourhood of St. Damaso, in
Parione, in the street of the same name, was originally built for the
clergy of the “ Nazione Picenna,” inhabitants of the Marca d’Ancona, hut
has received the appellation under which it is now known, since Cardinal
Montalto, afterwards Sixtus V., a member of the same clerical body,
inhabited it. Although it belonged from the earliest times to this
society, its present improved construction is attributed to Balthazar
Peruzzi. Its fresco decorations are of very different epochs, but it is
probable that the vestibule only, now almost destroyed, belongs to the
time of that architect ; the remaining decorations are more or less in a '
false taste, as, in particular, the richly-painted court on the first floor.
Most of the rooms of the same story are also painted ; many have the
armorial bearings of the prelates who resided here, among which are
the arms of Pope Marcellus II. Of the later paintings, none are more
interesting or better than those in a small cabinet representing the
labours of Hercules, elegant arabesques, and rich gildings ; these appear
to be among the better works of the Zuccari, and of the tune of Sixtus V.
The decorations of the arched ceiling of the small vestibule, which
is given in this Plate, are similar in design to the foregoing, although
of smaller dimensions. The signs of the zodiac, filling the soffits of
the arches, were favourite subjects in the ornamental painting of the
time. The candelabras in the spandrils are of great elegance, as are
also the decorations on the archivolts, of which, however, very little is
left; nearly one-half of the ceiling has been destroyed, owing to the
division of the vestibule by a wall, and the whitewashing of the smaller
portion.