Leseprobe

38 Francesco Montemezzano Verona 1555–1602 Venice Reception of Maria of Spain by the Ragazzoni Family in 1581 c. 1583 Fresco, transferred to canvas; 463×415 cm Acquired as a bequest from Karl August Lingner, Dresden, in 1916 Gal. no. 248 A On 20 September 1581, Giacomo Ragazzoni received Maria of Spain (1528–1603), widow of Emperor Maximilian II, at his palace at Sacile. To commemorate this important event in the family’s history, a fresco was commissioned for the banquet- ing hall of Palazzo Ragazzoni. It was one of a cycle of six, portraying important events in the life of the owner. A fresco is created by painting directly onto the damp surface of a freshly plastered wall. As the plaster dries, the pigments are indelibly absorbed into the plaster. Using the strappo technique, this thin topmost coloured layer can be detached from the render on the wall and transferred to a new support, such as canvas. In this group portrait we see the empress, dressed in black and accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, greeting the master of the house, who is bowing deeply. Next to him, his wife Piccabella is pointing to their two sons. Their eleven daughters are all dressed in white, and the youngest is carried by a nurse maid. Their curious hairstyles, with locks of hair twisted up to resemble a pair of horns, were indeed fashionable at the time. The three eldest daughters are clearly portrayed as married women, wearing more elaborate clothes and jewellery. Behind them stand their husbands. (In fact, the third-oldest daughter, Claudia, was only married in 1583, and so her husband’s appearance in the fresco is anachronistic.) Immediately to the right, next to the master of the house, are his brothers Placido and Gerolamo. Gerolamo was a priest, as shown by his attire.  |  ah