Loggia of the Muses

In the fresco on the east wall there is a lunette, the scene inside it depicts a tub with overflowing water. A head with a laurel wreath appears from the tub. It is Virgil; paintings and prints from the fifteenth-century confirm this. The great Mantuan poet draws his knowledge from the waters of the river Mincio and spreads his poetry across his native land. A young woman is leaning against the tub, she is the personification of the city of Mantua. The viewer, seeing the fresco, had the feeling of being in a place that was source of creation and art. This is also highlighted by the presence of Apollo, who appears on the same wall. The Gonzaga coat of arms is painted under the lunette, and is surrounded by two cherubs, leaving no doubt as to who the owners of the palace were.