Taddeo Zuccaro
Marine Deities in a Cartouche
c. 1566
This whimsical drawing was likely a preliminary design for one of two painted monochrome cartouches decorated with marine deities that adorn the vaulted ceiling of the guard room in the famous Villa Farnese at Caprarola, northwest of Rome. Executed after the artist's death by his brother, the painted project is an excellent example of how artists collaborated on immense decorative projects - the Villa Farnese represents one of the most significant of sixteenth century Italy. The mildly erotic character of the subject matter was well suited to a secular space, although it should be remembered that the Villa was the property of a high-ranking ecclesiastic, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese.
Artist
Title
Marine Deities in a Cartouche
Date
c. 1566
Medium
Drawing
Materials
pen and brown ink with brown wash and black chalk on laid paperDimensions
11.9 x 24.7 cm
Nationality
Italian
Credit line
Purchased 2008
Accession number
42297