Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
palace on via Santo Stefano 56 in central
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...
, region of Emilia Romagna,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
.
History
Construction of the palace was commissioned from Marc’Antonio Zani, from the architect Floriano Ambrosini. The palace was completed in 1594. The facade has a giant order of pilasters, standing atop a rusticated portico. The courtyard had an illusionistic fresco (1785) painted by Antonio Bonetti. The ground floor has frescoes by
Girolamo Mattioli
Girolamo Mattioli (lived 1577) was an Italian painter and engraver of the late-Baroque period, active in Bologna.
He was a pupil of Lorenzo Sabbatini
Lorenzo Sabbatini or Sabatini, Sabattini or Sabadini (c. 1530–1576), sometimes referred ...
, while the ceiling of the main salon was decorated by a young Guido Reni with frescoes of the ''Fall of Phaeton''. The Zani family once owned the ''Madonna of the Rose'' by
Parmigianino
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 150324 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (, , ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker active in Florence, Rome, B ...
, sold in 1732, and now in the collection at Dresden.
The Reni fresco is surrounded by later embellishments including the ''Four Elements'' at the angles by
Gaetano Gandolfi
Gaetano Gandolfi (31 August 1734 – 20 June 1802) was an Italian painter of the late Baroque and early Neoclassic period, active in Bologna.
Career
Gaetano was born in San Matteo della Decima, near Bologna, to a family of artists. Ubaldo ...
, and quadratura by Serafino Barozzi. The stucco work was completed by
Giacomo De Maria
Giacomo De Maria (1762–1838) was an Italian sculptor, active in Bologna.
Biography
He was a pupil of Domenico Piò. Among his works are:Vincenzo Testoni.
In 1745 The palace was acquired by the Abbot Pier Antonio Odorici, treasurer of
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV ( la, Benedictus XIV; it, Benedetto XIV; 31 March 1675 – 3 May 1758), born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 17 August 1740 to his death in May 1758. Pope Be ...
. The palace was restructured by the architects Giuseppe Antonio, Camillo Ambrosi, and later Giuseppe Tubertini. In 1840, the palace was acquired by Prince Pietro Pallavicini, who further refurbished the interiors. The palace is now owned by the Bonifica Renana Foundation.Bonifica Renana. /ref>