DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0086
PALAZZO DEL T, IN MANTUA.
GIULIO ROMANO AND PRIMATICCIO. 1525—1530.
PLATES 21—23.
Giulio Romano, finding himself compelled by circumstances to leave
Rome, yielded to the urgent invitations of Balthazar Castiglioni to
enter the service of the Marchese Federigo Gonzaga, who required his
assistance in execution of the improvements which he was then projecting
in his palace. He was presented by that celebrated courtier to his
sovereign, and received with the utmost cordiality and distinction. The
anxiety of the prince to avail himself of Giulio’s talents and experience
was so great, that he hardly allowed him time to recover from the
fatigues of a long journey, hut on the moment of his arrival sent him
one of his best horses as a present, inviting him to visit in his company
a favourite spot in the neighbourhood of Mantua, where he kept his
horses and hounds, and where he wished to convert the existing buildings
into a house of occasional retirement and recreation. Various accounts
have been given of the origin of the name del T, which was applied to
this palace, hut the only one which seems to deserve credit is that of
Gabrieli Bertazzolo1, who ascribes it to the form of the roads and avenues
by which it was approached, and which were so arranged as to produce
the capital letter T. All the old authors, beginning with Vasari, write it
del T, and not as in modern times del Te, which affords a confirmation of
this view. It was Gonzaga’s intention to make this building an unpre-
tending country house, with one single large room besides the necessary
1 Urbis Mantuae Descriptio, and a 2nd edition of 1628, by Ludovico Delfichi. Palazzo del T. fù cosi
chiamato perché sul principio della sua bonificazione furono fatte due strade, ehe ora sono adomate di
pioppi, l’una dalla Posterla sino alla crociata oltre S. Francesco di Paola, e Paîtra dall’ origine di Pajuola
alle stalle, in modo che queste due strade venivano a formare giustamente la lettera T majuscola, &c. &c.
GIULIO ROMANO AND PRIMATICCIO. 1525—1530.
PLATES 21—23.
Giulio Romano, finding himself compelled by circumstances to leave
Rome, yielded to the urgent invitations of Balthazar Castiglioni to
enter the service of the Marchese Federigo Gonzaga, who required his
assistance in execution of the improvements which he was then projecting
in his palace. He was presented by that celebrated courtier to his
sovereign, and received with the utmost cordiality and distinction. The
anxiety of the prince to avail himself of Giulio’s talents and experience
was so great, that he hardly allowed him time to recover from the
fatigues of a long journey, hut on the moment of his arrival sent him
one of his best horses as a present, inviting him to visit in his company
a favourite spot in the neighbourhood of Mantua, where he kept his
horses and hounds, and where he wished to convert the existing buildings
into a house of occasional retirement and recreation. Various accounts
have been given of the origin of the name del T, which was applied to
this palace, hut the only one which seems to deserve credit is that of
Gabrieli Bertazzolo1, who ascribes it to the form of the roads and avenues
by which it was approached, and which were so arranged as to produce
the capital letter T. All the old authors, beginning with Vasari, write it
del T, and not as in modern times del Te, which affords a confirmation of
this view. It was Gonzaga’s intention to make this building an unpre-
tending country house, with one single large room besides the necessary
1 Urbis Mantuae Descriptio, and a 2nd edition of 1628, by Ludovico Delfichi. Palazzo del T. fù cosi
chiamato perché sul principio della sua bonificazione furono fatte due strade, ehe ora sono adomate di
pioppi, l’una dalla Posterla sino alla crociata oltre S. Francesco di Paola, e Paîtra dall’ origine di Pajuola
alle stalle, in modo che queste due strade venivano a formare giustamente la lettera T majuscola, &c. &c.