Exhibition of capitals

Adorned with a plant motif, the Renaissance capital stands amid shop marquees.

Set down not far from the old merchants guild towards the end of Via Broletto, this pillar prominently displays the Gonzaga coat of arms: the imperial eagle.

The simple floral decoration ennobles the austere appearance of this pink-coloured capital.

This artefact forms part of a series of seemingly Corinthian capitals, although the anonymous Renaissance architect in question seems to have taken inspiration from the ancient columns that feature in so many paintings by Andrea Mantegna.

The symbol of the Gonzaga family that brings this fine capital to life, the doe, recalls the name of the 15th century building, "La Cervetta", situated on the corner of Piazza Mantegna that belonged to the Strada family and that was bombed and destroyed during the Second World War, before being rebuilt later. The only original elements of the building that remain are the columns and their respective capitals.

The historic centre of Mantua is a unique blend of different styles and eras. Here, the austere Renaissance capital stands in sharp contrast to the medieval style of the Rotonda of San Lorenzo.

While dating back to the time of the Renaissance, this capital boasts a floral style that is more reminiscent of international Gothic.

Here is one of the four magnificent capitals, carved from Veronese pink marble, that stand proudly on the portico beneath the façade of the house owned by the Concorezzo family from Brianza. The house is situated on the corner between Piazza Mantegna and Piazza Erbe and is also known as the "Merchant's House". It was built in 1455. The adornment in the style of an acanthus leaf embellishes the complex façade, while Gothic elements complement the Renaissance style.

Albeit simple, this Ionic capital underscores the enduring connection between the Italian Renaissance and Roman and Greek antiquity.

Albeit somewhat undermined by an adjoining drainpipe, this superb and impressive capital is taken from the building at 13 Piazza Marconi, which showcases the most prominent Mantuan painted façade.
The frescoes on the building can be attributed, directly or indirectly, to Andrea Mantegna or to the elite circle of his best pupils. The coat of arms depicted here features an alternating pattern of the sun and the moon, which can also be found on the insignia of the Gonzaga family in various guises.

It was often the case capitals were not originally part of the adjoining column. In this case, the fact that the capital has been added later is quite noticeable given the different colours on display. This capital is simple in form and dates back to the most widespread Renaissance archetype in the city.

It is the largest capital in the entire display. The plant motifs are carved rather coarsely, but this lends a certain weight to the overall effect, providing a much more ancient feel to the original Renaissance image.

The hallmarks of Fancelli's sculptural style can be gleaned from the leaf motifs in the vertical grooves that run down the middle of each side. Luca Fancelli (Born in Settignano in 1430, died 1502) was an architect who worked on a large number of buildings in Mantua and further afield, during the age of Alberti among others. For its geometric rigour and graceful forms, his architectural style is instantly recognisable, in both the clay and stone decorative elements.

This coat of arms is engraved on a capital that forms part of the porticoes at a house on Corso Umberto. It shows the black and gold stripes of the first coat of arms of the Gonzaga family, quartered with the distinctive large snake of the Visconti. The capital therefore dates as far back as the last decades of the 14th century, at a time when there was still an alliance between Francesco I Gonzaga and Gian Galeazzo Visconti. In fact, Francesco's wife was Agnese Visconti, who was accused of infidelity and beheaded on 7 February 1391.

Another capital from the house on Corso Umberto, once again displaying the dual insignia of the Visconti and Gonzaga families.