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Villa Farnesina
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Villa Farnesina is a historic villa in the Trastevere quarter of Rome with famous frescoes by Raphael. This villa is an Italian Renaissance masterpiece of architecture and painting combined. It was planned by the architect, Baldassare Peruzzi, being a prototype of a Roman suburban villa. Built in the early XVIth century for a rich Sienese banker, Agostino Chigi, who was also a patron of the arts and the Papal treasurer, it was immediately copied and imitated by others.
In 1580, the villa was bought by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and received its modern name. Extended restoration works took place in different years, but the largest happened in 1884. At that time, in Rome, allies and boulevards were built all along the Tiber, which caused the partial destruction of the villa’s garden and the loggia facing the river, probably projected by Raphael.
To decorate the villa, Agostino Chigi called in the most notable artists of that time: Peruzzi, Sebastiano del Piombo, Raphael and Il Sodoma.
Every room in the villa is covered with their frescoes. The Loggia of Psyche contains outstanding works by Raphael – the cycle of Stories of Cupid and Psyche. The artist did not work alone; his pupils helped him a lot, especially Giulio Romano. Some sources say that Psyche on the frescoes looks like Francesca Ordeaschi, a lover of Agostino Chigi. The Loggia hosts more than ten scenes with Venus, Psyche, Cupid and other characters.
The room of Fregio contains the works of Peruzzi, also based on the myth.
Another room is called the Room of Galatea and hosts another fresco by Raphael. The work was completed by the artist in 1512. The fresco “The Triumph of Galatea” shows the apotheosis of the nymph who is saddling up the shell drawn by dolphins. Raphael at that time was also working in the Vatican and promised Chigi to return and draw another fresco for him, but he never did. In the same room are also a great works by Sebastiano del Piombo, including “Polyphemus”.
Sebastiano del Piombo was a friend of Michelangelo who often came to the villa to visit his friend. In the same Room of Galatea is a monochrome drawing in lunette that people say is by Michelangelo. He drew a head as an example for his rival Raphael who was working there, but historians disagree and refer this drawing to Peruzzi. The rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo is also demonstrated by the fact that the criticism of Raphael’s frescoes in Villa Farnesina delighted Michelangelo. And Michelangelo also proposed the building of a private bridge linking the villa with the Palazzo Farnese on the other side of the Tiber where he was working at that time. The project was started but was never completed, and today it is possible to see some initial arches of that bridge at the back of Palazzo Farnese.
In 1580, the villa was bought by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and received its modern name. Extended restoration works took place in different years, but the largest happened in 1884. At that time, in Rome, allies and boulevards were built all along the Tiber, which caused the partial destruction of the villa’s garden and the loggia facing the river, probably projected by Raphael.
To decorate the villa, Agostino Chigi called in the most notable artists of that time: Peruzzi, Sebastiano del Piombo, Raphael and Il Sodoma.
Every room in the villa is covered with their frescoes. The Loggia of Psyche contains outstanding works by Raphael – the cycle of Stories of Cupid and Psyche. The artist did not work alone; his pupils helped him a lot, especially Giulio Romano. Some sources say that Psyche on the frescoes looks like Francesca Ordeaschi, a lover of Agostino Chigi. The Loggia hosts more than ten scenes with Venus, Psyche, Cupid and other characters.
The room of Fregio contains the works of Peruzzi, also based on the myth.
Another room is called the Room of Galatea and hosts another fresco by Raphael. The work was completed by the artist in 1512. The fresco “The Triumph of Galatea” shows the apotheosis of the nymph who is saddling up the shell drawn by dolphins. Raphael at that time was also working in the Vatican and promised Chigi to return and draw another fresco for him, but he never did. In the same room are also a great works by Sebastiano del Piombo, including “Polyphemus”.
Sebastiano del Piombo was a friend of Michelangelo who often came to the villa to visit his friend. In the same Room of Galatea is a monochrome drawing in lunette that people say is by Michelangelo. He drew a head as an example for his rival Raphael who was working there, but historians disagree and refer this drawing to Peruzzi. The rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo is also demonstrated by the fact that the criticism of Raphael’s frescoes in Villa Farnesina delighted Michelangelo. And Michelangelo also proposed the building of a private bridge linking the villa with the Palazzo Farnese on the other side of the Tiber where he was working at that time. The project was started but was never completed, and today it is possible to see some initial arches of that bridge at the back of Palazzo Farnese.
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