Frescoes in the Villa Godi, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino (1561-65)
by Giovanni Battista ZELOTTI

Girolamo Godi, organizer of a Vicenzan literary salon and friend of Pietro Bembo and Alvise Cornaro, engaged Gualtiero Padovano around 1550 to decorate the villa. In addition to the loggia, the decoration of four rooms in the right wing of the villa can be ascribed to Gualtiero: the Hall of the Gods or the Putto, the Hall of the Triumphs, the Hall of the Caesars, and the Hall of the Sacrifices. Gualtiero's sudden death in 1552 prevented him from completing the work which was taken over by Giovanni Battista Zelotti, who created the frescoes in the central hall, the Hall of Olympus, the Hall of the Arts, the Room of Seasons, and the Hall of the Muses. In the latter the contribution of Battista del Moro (c. 1515-c. 1573) is assumed.

The frescoes in the Villa Godi represents the apex of Zelotti's work, thanks to the harmonious fusion of decorative elegance, careful chromatic relationships, and the skilful use of illusionistic perspective.

Preview Picture Data Info
View of the central hall
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Episode from the Life of Alexander the Great
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Episode from the Life of Alexander the Great
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Girolamo Godi
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Hercules at the Crossroads
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Arts (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Arts (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Arts (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Arts (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Arts (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


View of the Hall of Olympus
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of Olympus (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of Olympus (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of Olympus (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


View of the Hall of the Muses
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Frescoes in the Hall of the Muses (detail)
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino


Wall decoration in the central hall
1561-65
Fresco
Villa Godi Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo Vicentino



Paintings by Giovanni Battista ZELOTTI
Frescoes in the Villa Godi (1561-65)
Frescoes in the Villa Emo (1564-66)
Various paintings



© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.