House of Street Governolo 7

The façade of this house is illustrative of how extensive fresco decoration was, even in the more minor streets of Mantua. The frieze at the top depicts soldiers, possibly fictional ones, on a dark background, punctuated by a female winged creature, probably a chimera or a sphinx. The most substantial part of the fresco features large, dark red leaf lobes on a light background, supplemented by neatly arranged circular adornments reminiscent of stylised yellow flowers. Other patterns adorn the façade at the level of the current entrance doors, reprising elements that are more usually carved onto 15th and 16th century doorways.