|
Ercole Pepoli engaged the brothers Gioseffo Maria and Antonio Rolli to paint the Sala di Felsina in the family palace. They painted on the ceiling the glorification of Felsina (Bologna's name in antiquity). Depictions of a personification of Felsina were popular subjects for the decoration of Bolognese senatorial palaces in this period. The club carried by one of Felsina's companions here alludes to Hercules and his Pepoli namesake. Additional references to him are the female personifications of virtues (Felicità Pubblica, Justitia, Prudentia, Liberalità) in the centre of the sides of the ceiling. Visually, these serve to bracket the centre picture with the framing, which mainly consists of architectural ornaments.
|
