Royal Elephant

Rosso’s greatest project was the decoration of the Galerie Fran�ois I (in situ) at the château of Fontainebleau, the plan for which was conceived in 1532, and the stuccowork and painting carried out under Rosso’s supervision from 1536 to 1539. Allegorical, mythological and occasionally historical frescoes, celebrating the power of the King, are framed by extravagant stucco grotesqueries - scrolls, armoury, trophies, garlands, goddesses, nymphs and putti - and employ a technique probably brought by Primaticcio from Mantua, where he had worked at the Palazzo del T�. Although Rosso probably expected to provide all 16 principal frescoes, the gallery has only 12, including the Royal Elephant, a complex allegorical tribute to the King.ng.