The Villa Farnesina was built for the wealthy treasurer of Pope Julius II, Sienese banker Agostino Chigi between 1506-10 as a summer house. The house was famous for it's fine proportions, great parties that ended with the gold and silver vessels thrown into the Tiber [ to be fished out by the servants later] and decoration which was somehow a collaboration between a great many artists.
Sala de la Galatea with landscapes by Gaspar Dughet, just visible in the lunette on the right is a head of a youth by Sebastiano del Piombo.
Galatea frescoed by Raphael which gives the room it's name.
The Gallery was once open to the garden. The ceilings were frescoed by Raphael, Julio Romano and Francesco Penni with the myth of Cupid and Pshyche. The festoons of fruit and flowers were done by Giovanni da Udine.
The faux marble and trompe l'oeil walls and Savonarola chairs
Looking into the Gallery from the tapestry room
Looking up
The Center hall's ceiling and faux marble walls
The porphyry stair hall with it's coffered ceilings
Every shutter is beautifully painted
The Sala of the Prospettive by Baldessare Perruzzi showing views of Rome between the columns and scenes from Ovid between the herms along the frieze.
Looking up at the coffered ceiling and the chandelier
The fireplace wall showing Vulcan at his labours.
Getting Chigi with it, the bedroom of the Villa Farnesina was painted by Sodema with scenes from the marriage of Alexander and Roxanne
Detail of one of the corners
Looking up
Roxanne was modeled after Mr. Chigi's mistress the ever fabulous Imperia who shared his jewel encrusted gold and ivory bed, bore him four children and committed suicide in August of 1512.
Walking out into the garden
Last view of the Farnesina from the back garden. You can understand why it was said that this house was not built but grew out of the gardens with it's perfect proportions.
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