Wallpainting

Identification: series

Title: The cities related to Padua University – The symbols of the academic authorities – The symbols of the sciences – Flower decorations

Author: Fornasetti Pietro, 1913/ 1988

Date: 1942 - 1943

Description

The decoration of the Rector’s Gallery was commissioned to Pietro Fornasetti, who however did not complete it as he was drafted in 1943. On the walls there are plants and views of the cities culturally linked to the University of Padua (Treviso, Sebenico, Corfù, Zante, Udine, Trento, Spalato, Creta, Negroponte, Napoli di Romania, Verona, Capodistria, Fiume, Ragusa, Scutari, Trieste, Vicenza, Bolzano, Venezia, Mantova, Traù, Cattaro, Bergamo, Brescia, Zara, Rovigo, Padova, Arbe, Curzola, Cefalonia, Cipro). On the doorposts, with a perspective illusion, there are depicted cabinets with shelves, drawers and doors partially open, among which objects such as books, bags of money and ceremonial maces are figured. Symbols and instruments of the sciences and the arts and floral decorations occupy the remaining spaces.

Materials and techniques: wallpainting/fresco

University of Padua, Historical and artistic Heritage

Cat. Number: OPA00291

Bibliography

• Semenzato C. 1979, L'Università di Padova: il Palazzo del Bo. Arte e storia, Sarmeola di Rubano (Padova), p. 37.
• Mauriès P. 2004, Fornasetti. La follia pratica, Torino, pp. 17, 68-69.
• Nezzo M. 2008, Il miraggio della concordia. Documenti sull’architettura e la decorazione del Bo e del Liviano: Padova 1933-1943, Treviso, pp. 632-650.