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Welcome to this site |
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The Ducal
Palace
Guide to the halls |
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Arcadia hall
The main themes of the internal paintings in this wonderful
Ducal Palace Hall represent the Duke Francesco III in some rural
life moments. All the people are represented in an idyllic and
harmonious atmosphere. |
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The ducal family, musicians, courtiers,
peasants look all the same. Here, human equality mirrors the
illimistic ideals of the time. |
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The four seasons, painted on the hall sides,
underline the importance of men work through the passing of
time. On the ceiling there is “Hercules’apotheosis”. He is
received by Apollo, who marries Ebe to him. This painting is an
allegory of the glory and immortality of the Duke Francesco III. |
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He got glory and immortality because he
worked a lot to ensure wealth to his subjects and because he got,
studying arts, a better nobilitas than his ancestors. |
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Myth Hall
The “myth” or “Ovidian” or “of metamorphosis” Hall represent
different themes that can be read in a metamorphic key: “Elena’s
escape”- symbol of the family- is an allegory of filial love. |
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The episode of “Apollo and Dafne” celebrates
virility as a moment of seduction. You find the same theme in
the episode “Atlantis and Ippomene”. The scenes portraying
“Priamo and Tisbe”and “Nasso and Deianira” indicate conflicting
values: on one hand there is marital love and allegiance, on the
other infidelity, that has to be condemned and punished.Another
important episode is “Hercules that frees Esione from a dragon”,
which was considered as an obliged act, a duty to accomplish.
The vault frescoes are also very suggestive: “The Sun cart”,
“Narcissus at the font”. |
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Bible Hall
Even the Bible Hall was painted by Carella portraying sacred
episodes. Here, you can find a valuable pictorial and expositive
linearity. The main episodes (on the right and left of the hall)
are “Tobiolo’s stories”. These are symbols of filial pietas that
exalt the sense of duty and devotion to the father’s authority,
typical elements of a patriarchal family.
On the wall at the end of the room there are : “Moses saved by
the water”, symbol of duty and charity; “David and Abigail”,
symbol of female care; “Rebecca at the well”, symbol of
chivalrous sense; “Salomè”, symbol of luxury. On the ceiling you
can see some scenes of the Deposition, of Tobia with the
archangel Raphael; of the Judgement with some angels among
torches and arrows under a rain of fire. Here, colours are very
dark and portray a desolate and barren landscape.
From a stylish point of view the Bible Hall, compared to the
others, is the most homogeneous because of its decorations and
of its monochromatic representation.In the end: there are three
halls that have different themes, painted with a peculiar
chromatism, linked to the portrayed stories. All these elements
have something in common: the exaltation of the glory of the
Caracciolo Ducal family, in its whole material and spiritual
magnificence.
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The Dukes' Chappelle
In this chapel there is a stately altar made of polychrome
and golden stone with some painted squares and with
paintings of Saints and arabesques on the lateral walls.
On the altar basement there is the Caracciolo coat of arms,
that is richly and powerfully decorated. |
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