Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Fragments of Ferdinando Gonzaga's Collection still in Mantua

Karl Santner
The Annunciation
ca. 1615-18
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Karl Santner
Annunciation Diptych (Virgin)
ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Karl Santner
Annunciation Diptych (Angel)
ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Karl Santner
Annunciation Diptych (detail of Angel)
ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

After Ferdinando Gonzaga's death in 1626, the duchy of Mantua suffered a long series of economic and political reverses, culminating in the dynasty's extinction in 1708.  An inventory of the family's artworks undertaken by Ferdinando's younger brother and successor, Vincenzo, listed more than 20,000 items.  The majority of these were subsequently dispersed across Europe in a series of forced sales and expropriations.  The paintings shown here – mainly pious works by artists of modest reputation – survived those depredations, and are now on display in the Palazzo Ducale, though many were scattered in the city's churches and other religious foundations until the 20th century.   

Antonio Gatti
Mystic Marriage of St Catherine
ca. 1614-15
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Antonio Gatti
Mystic Marriage of St Catherine (detail of attendant Saint)
ca. 1614-15
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Carlo Bononi
Miracle of St Chiara
ca. 1614-16
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Carlo Bononi
Miracle of St Chiara (detail)
ca. 1614-16
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Carlo Bononi
Miracle of St Chiara (detail)
ca. 1614-16
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Domenico Fetti
St Barbara
1613
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Domenico Fetti
St Louis of Toulouse
1613
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Domenico Fetti
St Catherine of Alexandria
1613
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Domenico Fetti
St Matthew
ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Domenico Fetti
St Paul
ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua

Lucrina Fetti
Portrait of Caterina de' Medici Gonzaga
as St Helen

ca. 1620
oil on canvas
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua