Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Guilio Romano's Palazzo del Te

The Palazzo del Te was commissioned by Federigo Gonzaga in Mantua. The name came from the island it was built on. Romano worked on this palace from 1527 to 1534. It was built for horse breeding and entertainment.
This building was built very peculiarly. Each side of the building is different. The design of each side is contradictory. Pilasters are constructed throughout the outside facades but the rest of the design doesn't exactly mimic that same type of Greek and Roman style; they are more rustic. Some other examples are the falling triglyphs. These triglyphs used are uniform except with a few that have a space on top of them for some reason. Romano even played with the pediments. Some look as though the blocks holding them up are separating apart and lifting the pediment. He wanted to break the rules for those who were educated in architecture and could see the intentional contradictions to architecture of the time.
 
I like the quote in the book by Hartt that says, "On both exterior and interior of the Palazzo del Te the elements of architecture seem to be battling with each other." When looking at first, this building seems kind of boring to me. It's very melodramatic; one story, square building.  Now looking more closely to the details it is really intriguing and interesting, but intentionally done this way; very genius I think.
 
 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Now, why were the sides built to contradict each other? WAs it to show mastery in separate styles of sculpture, disparities between styles at the time, or what?

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