April 2nd marked an important day for the city of Mantua. After having experienced a series of devastating earthquakes back in 2012, the Ducal Palace reopened its famous Camera degli Sposi (“bridal chamber”). The Ducal Palace or Palazzo Ducale was commissioned by Ludovico Gonzaga, part of a family not quite as elite or wealthy as the Medicis of Venice, Gonzaga was determined to give the city of Mantua a new name for itself, after having been referred to as the swampy marshland of Italy.
In an effort to rebrand the city, the Duke brought in celebrated architects and artists, among them, Mantegna. Gonzaga drained the swamps and had the Palazzo built. This marvelous palace was composed of more than 500 rooms, with its own chapel, the Santa Barbara. Centuries later, this prized chamber, also referred to as Camera Picta, is a prized possession not only of the city of Mantua, but of Italy itself. Dario Franceschini, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, has named it a treasure of Italian history because of the frescoes inside this chamber, painted by Andrea Mantegna, the court painter of the Duke of Mantua.
These frescoes, an example of early Renaissance art, can be summed into three main parts: the ceiling, the North wall, and the West wall. The oculus, painted on the ceiling, is a prime example of trompe l’oeil and foreshortening.
The clear blue skies, playful putti, and the flower pot giving one the impression that it is about to fall, leads to believe that it truly is a window into the outside. The North wall depicts the court of the Gonzaga dynasty, in a leisurely atmosphere where their wealth and prosperity are showcased for generations to come. The West wall depicts an encounter between the Duke, his son Cardinal Francesco, and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, and Christian I, King of Denmark and brother-in-law of Barbara of Brandenburg (Gonzaga’s wife at the time). This fanciful meeting of great men, taking place in a mythical ancient city brings together the influences of the Renaissance.
After years spent in restoration, this chamber is once again made accessible to the public, reminding us of the beauty and history that exists in “one of most beautiful cities in Italy”, enriching the heritage of Italy.
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