Ceiling decoration
by GIANI, Felice, Fresco
With the Peace of Bratislava (1805), Venice was incorporated into the French Empire. It was decided that a new sovereign’s residence was required for Napoleon and the viceroy, Eug�ne de Beauharnais. Once the idea of converting the Palazzo Ducale had been abandoned, the notion was mooted to use the Procuratie Nuove and the Libreria Marciana for this purpose.
Apart from Giuseppe Borsato, there were also a number of famous non-Venetians involved in decorating the royal palace. Felice Giani was given the task of painting the new apartment for the viceroy made out of the Libreria Marciana. His figures, full of self-confidence enlivened by quick-witted elements set against the whimsical ornamental scheme by Gaetano Bertolani, contain references to Herculaneum and neo-Renaissance motifs.
The picture shows the ceiling decoration for the viceroy’s apartment in the former Libreria Marciana.