ANGELI, Giuseppe

In 1754, three canvases (St Roch in Glory, Faith, Charity) were commissioned from Giuseppe Angeli by Antonio Bianchi, the Guardian Grande of the Scuola di San Rocco. They decorate the ceiling of the Chancery.

Giuseppe Angeli is also responsible for the four large monochromes set in sumptuous frames between the doors on the balcony in the ballroom. They depict glorious military events from Roman history, including Mucius Scaevola before Porsenna; Scipio Combating the Carthaginians; Curtius Rufus on his Horse; and Coriolanus Accepting the Command of the Roman Troops.

The present monochrome scene shows Coriolanus, who convinced by his mother, accepts the command of the Roman troops against Hannibal.

Giuseppe Angeli is also responsible for the four large monochromes set in sumptuous frames between the doors on the balcony in the ballroom. They depict glorious military events from Roman history, including Mucius Scaevola before Porsenna; Scipio Combating the Carthaginians; Curtius Rufus on his Horse; and Coriolanus Accepting the Command of the Roman Troops.

The present monochrome scene shows Curtius Rufus falling with his horse into a chasm in order to save Rome.

In 1754, three canvases (St Roch in Glory, Faith, Charity) were commissioned from Giuseppe Angeli by Antonio Bianchi, the Guardian Grande of the Scuola di San Rocco. They decorate the ceiling of the Chancery.

Giuseppe Angeli is also responsible for the four large monochromes set in sumptuous frames between the doors on the balcony in the ballroom. They depict glorious military events from Roman history, including Mucius Scaevola before Porsenna; Scipio Combating the Carthaginians; Curtius Rufus on his Horse; and Coriolanus Accepting the Command of the Roman Troops.

The present monochrome scene shows Mucius Scaevola burning his own hand on a brazier in the presence of Porsenna.

Giuseppe Angeli is also responsible for the four large monochromes set in sumptuous frames between the doors on the balcony in the ballroom. They depict glorious military events from Roman history, including Mucius Scaevola before Porsenna; Scipio Combating the Carthaginians; Curtius Rufus on his Horse; and Coriolanus Accepting the Command of the Roman Troops.

In 1754, three canvases (St Roch in Glory, Faith, Charity) were commissioned from Giuseppe Angeli by Antonio Bianchi, the Guardian Grande of the Scuola di San Rocco. They decorate the ceiling of the Chancery.

The two large scenes that extend between the doors on the walls in the ballroom are taken from Greek mythology and depict The Sacrifice of Iphigenia and The Abduction of Helen.

The Abduction of Helen is more agitated and theatrical than the other scene. It depicts the abduction of Queen Helen, beautiful wife of Menelaus, seized against her will by Paris and his Troyan soldiers and brought aboard a ship that is about to set sail.

The painting, executed by Giuseppe Angeli, a disciple of Piazzetta, depicts the Virgin, St Anthony Abbot, St Lorenzo Giustiniani, St Augustine and St Bernard of Menton.

The two large scenes that extend between the doors on the walls in the ballroom are taken from Greek mythology and depict The Sacrifice of Iphigenia and The Abduction of Helen.

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia shows the moment when the priest is about to inflict the mortal knife blow upon Agamemnon’s young daughter, who is condemned to be sacrificed to Diana to atone for the insult to the goddess caused by Agamemnon, who killed her sacred stag during a hunt. At the last moment, the goddess, moved by the young girl’s tragic fate, has a stag descend from the sky to be sacrificed in place of Iphigenia, who in turn will become one of Diana’s priestesses.

The villa of the Widmann family stands along the banks of the Brenta River near Mira. The existing structure is the result of a reconstruction carried out in 1719. In the 1750s, the interior of the villa was modified by creating a central hall, a ballroom, the height of the two preexisting floors and providing it with a balcony that circles the entire perimeter. The pictorial decoration of this room is the work of Giuseppe Angeli.

The decoration of the ballroom cover the entire wall surface, the intricate trompe-l’oeil architecture, attributed to Francesco Zanchi (active 1734-1772), is especially significant, in some areas even tends to reduce the space reserved for the figure painter. The overall effect is grandiose and highly refined.

The two large scenes that extend between the doors on the walls are taken from Greek mythology and depict The Sacrifice of Iphigenia and The Abduction of Helen.

The ceiling opens up to a blue sky, with a whimsical, lively framework that allows a glimpse of the celestial depths, also visible in four side compartments. The painter creates a complex allegorical image that celebrates the glory of the Widmann family. There is a representation of Juno Triumphant among the clouds. Below, female figures representing the Seasons are seated on clouds.