L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 3 Magnificent public buildings and private residences were built, including an imperial palace and a basilica in the 4th century, but soon after the city was sacked and destroyed by Attila's Huns. Nevertheless, the patriarchate survived until 1751, and on the ruins of the old city a new Romanesque basilica was erected in 1031 by Patriarch Poppo, and later restored and readjusted with Gothic accents after the 1348 earthquake. Its most remarkable feature is a massive 4th century mosaic floor, considered one of the largest and best-preserved examples in the w es tern Christian world. Divided in four different sections, it showcases religious and allegoric scenes, including portraits of donors - probably even of emperor Constantine and his family – along with animals, seasons, and Old Testament prophets. Among them were Jesus depicted as the Good Shepherd; the story of Jonah at sea, a recurring allegory of res urrection; the fight between a rooster and a turtle that represents the dichotomy of good and evil; Solomon's knot, w hich links th e human and divine worlds; and the image of the winged victory, symbolizing the status of Christianity as main faith of the Roman Empire, rec- ognized by Constantine's edict in 313 A.D. An epigraph in the center of one of the mosaic pat- terns was dedicated to bishop Theodore, founder of the origi- nal basilica, to honor him after April 2nd marked an impor- tant day for the city of Mantua. A f t e r h a v i n g e x p e r i e n c e d a s e r i e s o f d e v a s t a t i n g e a r t h - quakes back in 2012, the Ducal P a l a c e r e o p e n e d i t s f a m o u s Camera degli Sposi ("bridal chamber"). The Ducal Palace or Palazzo Ducale was com- m i s s i o n e d b y L u d o v i c o Gonzaga, part of a family not quite as elite or wealthy as the Medicis of Venice, Gonzaga was determined to give the city o f M a n t u a a n e w n a m e f o r i t s e l f , a f t e r h a v i n g b e e n r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e s w a m p y marshland of Italy, In an effort to rebrand the city, the Duke brought in cele- brated architects and artists, a m o n g t h e m , M a n t e g n a . Gonzaga drained the swamps and had the Palazzo built. This m a r v e l o u s p a l a c e w a s c o m - posed of more than 500 rooms, with its own chapel, the Santa Barbara. Centuries later, this prized chamber, also referred to as Camera Picta, is a prized possession not only of the city of Mantua, but of Italy itself. D a r i o F r a n c e s c h i n i , t h e M i n i s t e r o f C u l t u r e a n d Tourism, has named it a trea- sure of Italian history because o f t h e f r e s c o e s i n s i d e t h i s chamber, painted by Andrea Mantegna, the court painter of The Bridal Chamber Reopens his death. The peculiar combination of cultural and spiritual themes, which often marked the early expressions of Christianity, has been ascribed to the influence of preexisting pagan and esoteric cults, as well as to the presence of a strong gnostic community in the city at the time of Theodore's episcopacy. Despite all the research and archaeologi- cal investigations, however, we see an ancient world with mod- ern eyes and may never be able to fully understand it. The ancient mosaic, which also extends to the Crypt of the Excavation, was revealed during an excavation in 1909, when the later clay flooring that covered – but at the same time protected it from any damages - was com- pletely removed. In 1998, the site was listed as a World H eritage by the UNESCO. A vast collection of mosaic fragments and other arti- facts from private residences in the historical center of Aquileia are on view at the local National Archaeological Museum, but it is believed that more Roman remains in the area have yet to be brought to light. Basilica of Aquileia. In 1998, the site was listed as a World Heritage by the UNESCO Continued from page 1 the Duke of Mantua. These frescoes, an example of early Renaissance art, can be summed into three main parts: the ceiling, the North wall, and t h e W e s t w a l l . T h e o c u l u s , p a i n t e d o n t h e c e i l i n g , i s a prime example of trompe l'oeil and foreshortening. The clear blue skies, playful putti, and the flower pot giving one the impression that it is about to fall, leads to believe that it truly is a window into the out- side. The North wall depicts t h e c o u r t o f t h e G o n z a g a dynasty, in a leisurely atmos- phere where their wealth and prosperity are showcased for generations to come. The West w a l l d e p i c t s a n e n c o u n t e r b e t w e e n t h e D u k e , h i s s o n Cardinal Francesco, and the H o l y R o m a n E m p e r o r Frederick III, and Christian I, King of Denmark and brother- i n - l a w o f B a r b a r a o f Brandenburg (Gonzaga's wife at the time). This fanciful meet- ing of great men, taking place i n a m y t h i c a l a n c i e n t c i t y brings together the influences of the Renaissance. After years spent in restora- tion, this chamber is once again made accessible to the public, reminding us of the beauty and history that exists in "one of most beautiful cities in Italy", enriching the heritage of Italy. ALLISON SOTO-MORALES The Camera degli Sposi, an example of early Renaissance art, was painted by Andrea Mantegna for the Duke of Mantua The fight between a rooster and a turtle that represents the dichotomy of good and evil

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