MarketFall of the Giants (Romano)
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Fall of the Giants (Romano)

The Fall of the Giants is a full room fresco from floor to ceiling done by Italian Renaissance artist and architect Giulio Romano. Romano worked on the room from 1532 to 1534. It is located in the Palazzo de Te, Mantua, which was also designed and built by Romano. It was created for his patron Federico II Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua. The rooms of the Palazzo are said to tell the story of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Also known as the Sala dei Giganti, it is one of twenty-seven rooms covered in illusionistic frescos done by Romano. This particular room is generally praised by scholars because of Romano's unique take on the Mannerist style. Theories surrounding the purpose of this room stretch from political commentary to an exposition on Federico II Gonzaga's character, though there is no evidence that either are true.

Description
The room forms a round panorama; with no beginning or end. Its singular theme absorbs the viewer into the story of the heavenly god, Jupiter away from his throne, showing his willingness to fight against the giants attack. Jupiter carries a lightning bolt, wreaking havoc against the theatrical giants. When entering the Sala dei Giganti, an action scene of mid battle, is stuccoed onto the walls, bringing the viewer a sense of excitement. In order to create an illusionistic experience Romano purposely put the viewer on the ground with the giants, who are losing the battle with the Gods. In many respects the Sala dei Giganti (Fall of the Giants) differs from the other rooms of the Palazzo. In areas, such as the Sala di Psyche and the Sala di Ovidio, Romano had created scenes of erotic abandon and pastoral calm This helped create the illusion of a panoramic scene, when in reality the viewer is standing in a four cornered room with a domed ceiling. In the Chamber of Giants, the viewer is greeted with the horrific faces of the giants in the midst of chaos and destruction. Crushed by monumental marble and natural disasters caused by Jupiter, the giants are simultaneously trying to escape. Above the fireplace, the face of Typhon, the son of Gaia (personification of Earth). He is the target of the heavenly god, Jupiter. He tries to save himself from Jupiter’s wrath by spitting fire, but to no avail, he is in seen in the midst of his defeat. To once again create an interaction with the architecture, Romano has Typhons weak attempt to attack Jupiter become a part of the fireplace below him by having the fire he spits connect with the fire in the fireplace. When looking for Typhons aggressor the viewer's eye is drawn to the heroic Jupiter, away from his throne. He places himself by Juno, Jupiter’s wife and sister, an action scene of himself actively attacking the giants who, according to the Metamorphosis, has intent to raid Mount Olympus. Jupiter is seen carrying a lightning bolt, wreaking havoc on the animated giants. As the viewer's eye continues to go up the walls to the ceiling, they are greeted with a myriad of characters. They look down, some in horror and curiosity, others in an impassive annoyance of the event below them. Notably, the Imperial eagle looks down from an umbrellaed throne from above, giving the impression that it is orchestrating the event below. While the four winds help create the chaos through their evangelical talents and menacing faces. According to other versions of the myth, Jupiter resisted the Giants' assault thanks to the intervention of Pan or of the asses of Silenus and Bacchus, but overall the scene is meant to create an unsettling atmosphere for its visitors. == Patron ==
Patron
Done for his patron Federico II Gonzaga, the Metamorphoses was a popular subject to depict in the Cinquecento for multiple reasons. In 1522 Romano was officially courted and in 1524, he moved to Mantua to build and decorate the interior of the Palazzo de Te and went on to build many of the cities buildings In the Chamber of Psyche on the walls bordering the room it clearly states in “HONESTO OCIO POST LABORES AD REPARANDAM VIRT[utem] QVIETI CONSTRVI MANDAVIT” meaning “ordered this construction for his honest leisure after hard labours, to regain his strength in peace”). The need to prove himself all powerful and dedicate an entire Palazzo to his own gloriousness pushed Freud's interpretation of Gonzaga and the Sala dei Giganti. == Mannerism ==
Mannerism
Giulio Romano's mannerist style used in his frescoes was a way to dramatize the scene depicted on the walls of Sala dei Giganti. This decision was both architectural and artistic. With no known classical training in this style, Romano honed it as his own. The idea of illusion was not a new concept, but Visari considered Romanos take on it as one that pushed the limits of its architecture. Without allowing the viewer to escape to reality once they entered the room, the viewer no longer is given the line between picture and frame. This made the room and Palazzo de Te unique in its own right. File:Ceiling of the Room of the giants in Palazzo Te, Mantua.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 23.jpg File:Giulio Romano - View of the Sala dei Giganti (west wall) - WGA09545.jpg File:Giulio Romano - View of the Sala dei Giganti (south wall) - WGA09546.jpg File:Giulio Romano - View of the Sala dei Giganti (north wall) - WGA09553.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 12.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 38.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 41.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 08.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 44.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 20.jpg File:Giulio romano e rinaldo mantovano, caduta dei giganti, 1532-35, 50.jpg ==See also==
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