Wall decoration (detail)

The picture shows part of the wall decoration in the room in the southwest corner of the west wing in the Villa Poggio Imperiale. This room is fascinating for its exquisite grotesque decoration covering the full height of the walls and the greater part of the vault. Its lively, symmetrical, fragile-looking motifs include griffins, masks, baskets of fruit, animals, garlands, rosettes, and other delicate plant forms. This tasteful decor, which is skillfully adapted to the architecture, was executed by Tommaso Gherardini, known as a specialist in decorations in the Pompeian style.