Design for the entrance to the garden of the artist's house (the Palazzo Zuccari) in the Via Gregorgiana, Rome
Drawing
late 16th century (drawn)
late 16th century (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Front elevation of the design for the garden of the Palazzo Zuccari in the via Gregoriana, Rome. The doorway takes the form of an open mouth of a grotesque head, with the niches either side also taking this shape. Busts sit atop the niches, and above the entrance is a small figurative scene.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Design for the entrance to the garden of the artist's house (the Palazzo Zuccari) in the Via Gregorgiana, Rome (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on faded blue paper |
| Brief description | Drawing, Design for the entrance to the garden of the artist's house (the Palazzo Zuccari) in the Via Gregorgiana, Rome, by Federico Zuccaro, Itailan School, pen and ink and wash, late 16th century |
| Physical description | Front elevation of the design for the garden of the Palazzo Zuccari in the via Gregoriana, Rome. The doorway takes the form of an open mouth of a grotesque head, with the niches either side also taking this shape. Busts sit atop the niches, and above the entrance is a small figurative scene. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | PROVENANCE John Talman (as indicated by the decorated gold border); C. J. Richardson bought from him 1863 This object was once part of an album of designs by various architects, artists and designers collected by the architect Charles James Richardson, and was bought from him by the Museum in 1863. |
| Bibliographic reference | Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings Volume I. 14th-16th century, London, 1979, cat. 425, p. 194-195, illus.
The text is as follows:
ZUCCARO, FREDERICO
(c. 1540-1609)
425
Design for the entrance to the garden of the artist's house (the Palazzo Zuccari) in the Via Gregoriana, Rome
Pen and ink and wash on faded blue paper
6 5/8 x 10¾ (168 x 273) 3436-228
PROVENANCE John Talman (as indicated by the decorated gold border); C. J. Richardson bought from him 1863
LITERATURE E. Guldan, 'Das MonsterPortal am Palazzo Zuccari in Rom' in Zeitschrift fur Kunstgeschichte, 1969, pp. 229-61, pI. 29
Zuccaro designed his own house and began building it in 1591, but never completed it. The garden wall, pierced by a door and two windows in the form of grotesque masks with gaping mouths, is shown here approximately as executed. Between 1904 and 1907 the house was substantially altered, the garden was built over and the wall which enclosed it incorporated into the new structure. See W. Kiirte, Der Palazzo Zuccari in Rom, Leipzig, 1935, pp. 14-20 and pis. 5-9. Guldan suggests in his article that the origin of Federico's conceit is to be found in medieval illustrations representing the entrance to Hell as a mouth. He also points out that there is a garden house at Bomarzo near Viterbo in the form of a head with a gaping mouth, and another belonging to the Villa Aldobrandini, near Frascati. Compare also the drawing no. 894 [museum no. E.2652-1920] in our vol. 2. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3436:228 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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