Ducal Palace of Modena
Encyclopedia
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
palace in Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was the residence of the Este Dukes of Modena
Duchy of Modena and Reggio
The Duchy of Modena and Reggio |Italian]] state that existed from 1452 to 1859, with a break between 1796 and 1814. It was ruled by the noble House of Este, from 1814 Austria-Este.-House of Este:...
between 1452 and 1859. It currently houses a portion of the Italian Military Academy.
History
Construction of the palace started under Francesco I d'EsteFrancesco I d'Este
Francesco I d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1629 until his death. The eldest son of Alfonso III d'Este, he became reigning duke after his father's abdication.-Biography:...
in 1634 and was finished by Francesco V. The palace occupies the site of the former Este Castle, once located in the periphery of the city. Although generally credited to Bartolomeo Avanzini
Bartolomeo Avanzini
Bartolomeo Avanzini was an Italian architect of the Baroque period, active mainly in Modena, Sassuolo and Reggio Emilia.The design for the Palazzo Ducale of Modena has been attributed to Avanzini, though between 1631 and 1634 Girolamo Rainaldi played a role in the initial plans...
, it has been suggested that advice and guidance in the design process had been sought from Pietro da Cortona
Pietro da Cortona
Pietro da Cortona, by the name of Pietro Berrettini, born Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, was the leading Italian Baroque painter of his time and also one of the key architects in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture. He was also an important decorator...
, Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
and Francesco Borromini
Francesco Borromini
Francesco Borromini, byname of Francesco Castelli was an architect from Ticino who, with his contemporaries, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Pietro da Cortona, was a leading figure in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture.A keen student of the architecture of Michelangelo and the ruins of...
.
The Palace has a Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
façade from which the Honour Court and the Honour Staircase can be accessed.
In 1696, Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini
Marcantonio Franceschini , was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mostly in his native Bologna. He was the father and teacher of Giacomo Franceschini.-Biography :...
was commissioned to create a fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
ed ceiling for the central Sala d'Onore ("Hall of Honour") for the marriage of Rinaldo d'Este to Princess Charlotte Felicity of Brunswick. The Salottino d'Oro ("Golden Sitting Room"), covered with gilted removable panels, was used by Duke Francis III as his main cabinet of work.
Modern use
The Palace currently houses the Accademia Militare di ModenaAccademia Militare di Modena
The Accademia Militare is a military university in Modena, in northern Italy, located in the Palazzo Ducale, in the historic centre of the city...
, the Military Museum and a precious Library.
Military ceremonies are held in the Honour Court.
Este births and deaths
Being a residential palace, a significant number of EsteEste
The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf historically rendered in English, Guelf or Guelph...
family members were born or died at the palace including:
- Isabella d'Este (1635–1666) - born at the palace.
- Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena (1655–1737) - born and died at the palace.
- Duchess Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1671–1710) - died at the palace in childbirth (the child also died).
- Maria Teresa Felicitas d'Este (1726–1754) - born at the palace.
- Ercole III d'Este, Duke of ModenaErcole III d'Este, Duke of ModenaErcole III d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1780 to 1796. He was a member of the House of Este.-Biography:...
(1727–1803) - born at the palace. - Maria Fortunata d'EsteMaria Fortunata d'EsteMaria Fortunata d'Este was a Modenese princess by birth and a princess of the blood of France by marriage. By her marriage to a second cousin Louis François Joseph de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, she became the Countess of La Marche and later the Princess of Conti and was a member of the French court...
(1731–1803)
See also
- ModenaModenaModena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
- House of Este
- Santo PerandaSanto PerandaSanto Peranda was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period.He was a pupil of the painter Leonardo Corona and later Palma il Giovane. Also known as Santa Peranda. He painted a Descent from the cross for San Procolo in Venice. He painted The defeat of the Saracens for the Ducal Palace of...
- painted The defeat of the Saracens for the palace.