Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

P ALAZZ O ROSSO  79

is Hendrick Avercamp’s
Rooms 11–12: Roman delightful Winter Landscape
Painting from the with Ice Skaters.
17th Century
One of the highlights in
Among the works in Room 11 Room 16 is Jan Wildens’
is an exquisite Madonna with July: Hay Gathering (1614),
Child in a Landscape (1615–20), part of the artist’s series of 12
by Orazio Gentileschi, a friend months (eight of which are
and follower of Caravaggio. The held in Genoese museums).
painting is reminiscent of late- The large dimensions of the
medieval works, especially in its paintings suggest that they
portrayal of the Virgin Mary, who were probably commissioned
is sitting on the ground – a detail and created in order to
that underlines her humility. decorate the mansions of the
In Room 12 is Andrea Genoese nobility. Cornelis de
Sacchi’s Daedalus and Icarus. Wael’s Fight Between Infantry
Despite the strong chiaroscuro and Cavalry also hangs in
effect, this painting represents Room 16. Loggia delle Rovine (or Loggia di Diana),
Sacchi’s successful break from frescoed by Piola
Caravaggio-esque influences.
Rooms 27–33: Rooms together fact and fiction by
of the Four Seasons superimposing stuccoes
and Loggias over frescoes.
Room 28 originally bore This decorative cycle
frescoes of the Myth of Phaethon culminates in the Loggia delle
by Gregorio De Ferrari. They Rovine (or Loggia di Diana)
were destroyed during World by Paolo Gerolamo Piola. Fine
War II, although the preparatory portraits are displayed in these
drawings were fortunately same rooms. The works by
saved. His work does survive, Van Dyck (highlights include
however, in the subsequent the portraits of Anton Giulio
rooms. Frescoes on the ceiling Brignole-Sale, Paolina Adorno
in the next four rooms (29–32), Brignole-Sale and Geronima
completed in 1687–89, depict Brignole-Sale and her Daughter
the Allegories of the Four Aurelia) were commissioned
Seasons: Spring and Summer in the first half of the 17th
are by Gregorio De Ferrari, century by Gio. Francesco Il
and Autumn and Winter are by Brignole-Sale. It was the first
Domenico Piola (assisted by major demonstration of the
Ludovico Carracci’s Annunciation, which can perspective painters Enrico and economic power that the
be admired in Room 4 Antonio Haffner). These superb family had acquired.
works use complex iconograpy
to exalt the glory of the Brignole-
Rooms 14–16: Dürer Sale family, taking the form Rooms 34–37: Rooms
& Flemish Painting from of illusory art that weaves with Allegories of the
the 16th Century Human Condition
The undisputed masterpiece These rooms were frescoed
of Room 14 is Albrecht Dürer’s between 1691–92 by Giovanni
Portrait of a Young Man (1506). Andrea Carlone, Bartolomeo
Part of the Vendramin Collection Guidobono, Carlo Antonio
in Venice during the 16th Tavella and Domenico Parodi.
century, the painting came The paintings depict the
to Genoa via Giuseppe Maria allegories of the Life of Man
Durazzo, who acquired it in (Room 34), the Liberal Arts
1670 and passed it on to his (35) and Youth in Peril (37).
daughter Maria, wife of Gio. Room 36, Alcova, is a
Francesco Il Brignole-Sale. delightful space, decorated
The painting was subject to and furnished in full 18th-
excessively vigorous cleaning cen tury style: delicate
in the 20th century, which has perspective paintings by
led to some damage. It remains, Andrea Leoncino adorn the
however, a great example of walls and the ceiling. The
the Nuremberg artist’s activity Geronima Brignole-Sale and her Daughter bridal bed was made by
while in Italy. Also in Room 14 Aurelia, by Van Dyck Gaetano Cantone in 1783.

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