Casa del Mantegna

One of the characteristics of the House, built on two floors, is that it basically constitutes a square inside which a circle is inscribed that forms the plan of the cylindrical courtyard. An evident reference to the renown oculus in the Bridal Chamber in the Ducal Palace, this circular opening allows to view a portion of sky, creating an effect of harmony between the solidity of the general plan and the infinite quality of the circumference which is the soul of the building.

In his Lives Vasari wrote that Mantegna erected and painted a beautiful house for himself in which he lived for the rest of his life. It is not known where the artist resided during the first years of his stay in Mantua, supposedly he lived in the Aquila district, close to the Ducal Palace. Over the years the land owned by him increased, thus allowing him to access a substantial income. Mantegna was an outstanding artist, but also a talented architect, as is clearly indicated by various documents of the time. He was in charge of the decoration of various palaces in Mantua, many of which no longer stand. The need to design a house for himself, its features an example of the most exquisite Renaissance style, evidently was felt starting in 1476, a date that can be found in an inscription on the marble reinforcement on the corner on the external wall of the House. The Latin inscription reads: “On land given by Prince Ludovico, Andrea Mantegna laid the foundations November 18, 1476…”   

The frescoes decorating the inside of the House, of which unfortunately only traces remain, show two coat of arms, that can both be linked directly to Mantegna, because they are similar to the one that can be found in the funerary chapel in the Mantua Cathedral of St. Andrew. On the right the sun is visible, the symbol of the Marquise Ludovico, granted to the painter in 1459. On the left a crown surrounded by myrtle, while below we can see two decorated strips on a black background, an echo of the first coat of arms of the Gonzaga family.

This is the most prestigious fresco inside the House: a sun shining over a grid made of rings of various colours, such as azure and yellow: the sky and light. In between the rays of light a scroll is visible, with the motto “Par un desir”. Everything here is a reference to the Bridal Chamber in the Ducal Palace, where we can find a similar motif with rings. The writing, also a reference to Ludovico Gonzaga, alludes to man’s intense desire which is fortified by willpower.

This is a fragment of a fresco that has remained visible despite the numerous interventions. It is a typical decoration of the late 15th century, made precious by the beautiful blue of the background.  

The relationship with the classical ideal is fundamental in the painting of Andrea Mantegna, che often depicted portions of ancient buildings, creating a direct link with the precepts of Humanism. This occurs also in the decorations next to the arched doors that give onto the inner courtyard of the House. The marble of the Greek model is transformed into red earth, used for instance by Luca Fancelli to adorn buildings in Mantua. The ideal harmony remains visible to this day, despite the precariousness imposed by the passing of time.