LSA363809 Detail of Calchas and Iphigenia from The Sacrifice of Iphegenia, from the Entrance Hall in the Palazzina, 1757 (fresco)/ Luca Sassi
Tiepolo's Masterpiece
Bridgeman is delighted to announce that we have obtained the most comprehensive collection of images of the frescoes from Villa Valmarana ai Nani. This extensive palace in Italy's Veneto region is a Unesco World Heritage Site consisting of three buildings in an 18th century park: the Owner's Residence (Palazzina), which the Valmarana family still calls home, the Guest House (Foresteria) and the Stables (Scuderia).
The frescoes, based on Roman mythology, were commissioned in 1757 by Giustino Valmarana and painted by Giambattista Tiepolo, one of the greatest and most prolific artists of the period, and his son, Giandomenico. It is universally considered the foremost expression of 18th century painting and it is one of the best examples of Giambattista Tiepolo's genius.
Giambattista's work spans the Palazzina. In his fullest artistic maturity, he painted sentimental episodes from epic stories: Aeneid, Orlando furioso by Ariosto, and Gerusalemme liberata by Tasso and The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which occupies the whole main room.
In the Foresteria, Giandomenico painted in a style completely different than his father's the Chinese Room, the Peasant's Room, the Seasons Room and the Carnival Room. The Olympus God's Room, with the famous Venus, was painted by Giambattista.
LSA363884 Detail of Monkey, from the Room of Carnival Scenes in the Foresteria, 1757 (fresco)/ Luca Sassi
LSA363860 Detail from The Offering of Fruit to a Lunar Deity, from the Chinese Room, 1757 (fresco)/ Luca Sassi