View of the Camerone

The construction of the Villa Da Porto Colleoni probably began in 1440-41 at the behest of Francesco Da Porto. Its decoration was commissioned in the sixteenth century from Paolo Veronese, Giovanni Battista Zelotti, and Giovanni Antonio Fasolo. Unfortunately, the decoration, with the exception of that in the camerone (large room) was later obliterated.

The decoration in the camerone is attributed to Fasolo, with a contribution by Zelotti. Here, inserted within elegant Corinthian loggias on the long wall, are four scenes taken from Roman history: Mucius Scaevola before Porsena and Sofonisba Asking Massinissa for Mercy (east wall), Scipio Returning Lucius’s Betrothed and the Banquet of Antony and Cleopatra (west wall). On either side of the fireplace the figures of Vulcan and Venus Holding Cupid, and above the door, the figures of Minerva and Mercury complete the decoration.