Mantova

[snyders]

Magestic view opens on the town from the main road.





Palacco Ducale. Here Verdi's Rigoletto takes place.




This was one of the largest and the most beautiful palaces in Europe in XV-XVI century. Now inside there is a nice museum, with only few visitors. Unfortunately it is forbidden o take photos inside. Andrea Mantegna and Antonio Pisanello have worked on frescoes for the palace. Some of Pisanello's preparatory drawings have been uncovered only in the 60-s of the XX century.





I do not know why, but I like this picture more than the others. The colors, the old building, and the fact that people still remember a painter, who lived more than 500 years ago.



As far as I can see on the Internet the subject of this family portrait is not very clear. Ludovico has just received a letter and speaks to (?)some unknow carracter, possibly a secretary. The subject of the letter could be the announcement of the nomination in 1461 of Ludovico's son Francesco (then seventeen years old) as a cardinal.


However if you ask me, this "secretary" has more of the looks of a professional killer, and the gesture of Ludovico looks more like giving a new "assignement" to this person, rather than a joy over a promotion of his son. The fact that his family looks with clear horror at him (not obvious on the photo reproduction) may support this.