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During the period of the Medici court, the room named after Apollo was used as antechamber for the "ordinary nobility", meaning it was used by gentlemen who were waiting to be received by the Grand Duke inside the Throne Room. The designs for the decorations are by Pietro da Cortona, who painted the main fresco in the centre of the vault, depicting the Medici Prince brought before Apollo by Fame. The fresco was painted not long before the artist left Florence to return to Rome in 1647 and Ciro Ferri, a loyal pupil of Cortona, completed the decorations in the room, fifteen years later (1659-1661), after being appointed to do so by the Grand Duke. His are the frescos in the lunettes and the superb stucco cornice - a model that was then copied throughout Europe, based on the designs and cartoons left by his teacher.
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