DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42129#0098
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THE DUCAL PALACE IN MANTUA.
PLATE 24.
DECORATIONS ON THE CEILING OF THE UFFIZIO DELLA SCALCHERIA.1
A. MANTEGNA AND GIULIO ROMANO.
This exquisite specimen of a richly decorated ceiling is said to he one
of the first paintings which Giulio Romano executed in Mantua, The
conception is beautiful, and the execution most careful. The white
ground in the centre-piece, which alone could give distinctness to the
multitude of objects introduced upon it, relieves the colours admirably,
and they are still more set off by the brilliant border in deep colours in
the spandrils and soffits, adorned with the most exquisite little stuccoes
and arabesques. The larger medallions in the four corners of the ceiling,
and those in the spandrils, are imitations of stucco and mosaic,2 The
figure of a female, with a genius, in the centre, looking over a balustrade,
is painted in oil, and is attributed to Mantegna. The pleasures of the
chase, or sports of Diana, in the lunettes, are amongst the most
elegant inventions of Giulio Romano.
PLATES 25 and 26.
LA GALLERIA DE’ MARMI.
So called from a considerable number of master-pieces of the Grecian
chisel, which once adorned it, but which, in common with the rest of
the treasures of Art possessed by the Gonzagas, were removed northward
after the pillage of 1630.—There is some analogy between the arrange-
ment of this loggia and that of the Villa Madama ; it excels the Roman
1 Scalcheria, 1’ arte ed ufficio dello scalco ; flat. architriclini ufficium. Scalco, quegli, ehe ordina il
convito, e mette in tavola la vivanda ; e anche quegli, ehe la trincia. Diz. della Crusca.
2 The busts are upon a ground of imitated gold-mosaic ; the other medallions are imitations of ferra
cotta ; the circles round them are of different colours, hut mostly green, yellow, and neutral tint.
THE DUCAL PALACE IN MANTUA.
PLATE 24.
DECORATIONS ON THE CEILING OF THE UFFIZIO DELLA SCALCHERIA.1
A. MANTEGNA AND GIULIO ROMANO.
This exquisite specimen of a richly decorated ceiling is said to he one
of the first paintings which Giulio Romano executed in Mantua, The
conception is beautiful, and the execution most careful. The white
ground in the centre-piece, which alone could give distinctness to the
multitude of objects introduced upon it, relieves the colours admirably,
and they are still more set off by the brilliant border in deep colours in
the spandrils and soffits, adorned with the most exquisite little stuccoes
and arabesques. The larger medallions in the four corners of the ceiling,
and those in the spandrils, are imitations of stucco and mosaic,2 The
figure of a female, with a genius, in the centre, looking over a balustrade,
is painted in oil, and is attributed to Mantegna. The pleasures of the
chase, or sports of Diana, in the lunettes, are amongst the most
elegant inventions of Giulio Romano.
PLATES 25 and 26.
LA GALLERIA DE’ MARMI.
So called from a considerable number of master-pieces of the Grecian
chisel, which once adorned it, but which, in common with the rest of
the treasures of Art possessed by the Gonzagas, were removed northward
after the pillage of 1630.—There is some analogy between the arrange-
ment of this loggia and that of the Villa Madama ; it excels the Roman
1 Scalcheria, 1’ arte ed ufficio dello scalco ; flat. architriclini ufficium. Scalco, quegli, ehe ordina il
convito, e mette in tavola la vivanda ; e anche quegli, ehe la trincia. Diz. della Crusca.
2 The busts are upon a ground of imitated gold-mosaic ; the other medallions are imitations of ferra
cotta ; the circles round them are of different colours, hut mostly green, yellow, and neutral tint.