until they become lost amidst infinite space. Whence this apartment, which is not more than fifteen braccia long, has rather the appearance of a wide tract of country. The flooring also is formed of small round stones, the similitude of which is continued in painting on the commencement of the upright walls, so that the separation of the floor and walls is not too apparent; there are no sharp angles, and the level of the country there represented is thus made to seem of great extent; all this was put into execution and finished with the most profound art and the highest perfection of judgment, by the master, to whom all those who are occupied with our arts owe much gratitude for these singular inventions.[1]
By the practice obtained in this work, the above-named Rinaldo Mantovano was rendered a distinguished painter, since it was by him that the whole was conducted and brought to completion[2] after the cartoons of Giulio Romano.[3] He worked in the other apartments also, and if this artist had not been so early taken from the world, he would doubtless have obtained honour for himself after the death of Giulio, as he did honour to the instructions of that master while he lived. After having completed the palace of the T, in which Giulio executed many other works, all worthy of commendation, but respecting which I remain silent, desiring to avoid too much prolixity;—after completing this structure, I say, this master reconstructed from the ground up many apartments in the palace which the Duke inhabited at Mantua, erecting two very broad spiral staircases also, and adorning numerous chambers with rich decorations in stucco.
- ↑ Faciuoli of Mantua has sought to prove his countryman Rinaldo the author of these paintings, in a book entitled La Sala de' Giganti dimostrata invenzione ed opera di Rinaldo Mantovano; but Gaye, Carteggio inedito, has combated this opinion, the propriety of which he further questions in the Kunstblatt for 1838, No. 71.
- ↑ The account of expenditure in the household of the Marquis for this period has the following item: — “1st March, 1532, to the painter Rinaldo, for the painting of a great chamber, which he undertook by command of our illustrious Lord, and also by that of the much to be honoured Giulio Romano, eight gold crowns, for his monthly payment.”
- ↑ It will be remembered that in the document cited in the preceding note there is no word of the part taken by Giulio in the work, but in
