Giordiano and the Medici Ceiling

Rehang of the central gallery of the National Gallery with the complete set of the oil sketches by Luca Giordano of designs for the ceiling of the Palazzo Medici Miccardi.

The pictures show the progress of mankind via wisdom and virtue starring the Medici. I loved the fact that the central panel was the “Apotheosis of the Medici”, still it was post Rubens so if it was good enough for James I why not! The works are full of crazy mythological images such as three headed dogs and more cherubs than you’d ever need! Some of the images had real feel of Poussin.

The gallery acquired the pictures in 2013 and they are in their original frames. It is great to see them together and to think about one of the great decorative schemes of the 17th century.

I’m not sure how long this hang will be in the gallery but it is well worth a look before they go back to being shown one at a time.

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