Chamber of Psyche

The chamber of Psyche, the most sumptuous room of the palace, is decorated with erotic frescoes. The walls and the ceiling illustrate the tale of Psyche, narrated by the Latin author Apuleius in his work The Golden Ass. From the initial Neoplatonic theme of the journey of the human soul towards the union with divine love, we move towards a colourful representation which culminates in a festive nuptial banquet, where everyone celebrates the happy ending of the tale. The painting adorning the chamber is a celebration of the Mannerist conception of art, of which Giulio Romano is champion: here he takes inspiration from the Loggia in the Villa Farnesina in Rome. Ten years after these frescos were painted – they were condemned by Michelangelo - Giulio Romano was able to create a new captivating palace, in which none of the represented figures is the real protagonist; the two main characters seem to be lost in the vortex created by the fast paced scenes.