The Villa La Pelucca frescoes are a –1523 cycle of frescos by Bernardino Luini, commissioned by the Milanese nobleman Gerolamo Rabia for his villa near Monza, known as 'La Pelucca'. Most of the surviving fragments are in the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, though others are in the Wallace Collection in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Musée Condé in Chantilly and other private collections.AA.VV., Brera, guida alla pinacoteca, Electa, Milano 2004. Stylistically they shown the influence of Bramantino - Women Bathing the figure's shoulders is a homage to the Trivulzio Tapestries, particularly February from that cycle.
History In the Napoleonic era the villa was used by viceroy Eugene de Beauharnais, before passing into the lands of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia in 1816. Shortly after that it was sold to private owners. The frescoes were removed between 1821 and 1822 by Stefano Barezzi, who transferred them to canvas supports, leading to several cracks which are still visible. Vast pieces of the cycle are lost, particularly those relating to the framing architecture, irredeemably altering the legibility of the cycle.
Gallery
Known scenes Measurements in cm.
Pinacoteca di Brera Knight, 165x133 Family of Satyrs Sacrificing to Pan, 176x147 Scene of Metamorphoses, 167x156 Celebration of Passover, 117x173 Death of the Firstborn, 211x169 Preparations for the Departure of the Jews, 275x170 The Egyptians' Gifts to the Jews, 149x120 The Jews' Song of Triumph, 243x143 Gathering the Manna, 200x145 Bust of a Girl, 47x37 Pair of Young Men, 53x61 The Game of the Golden Cushion, 140x100 Mythological Scene, with the Birth of Adonis in the Background, 208x193 Girls Bathing, 135x235 Three Harvesting Putti, 50x72, 60x65, 60x72 Angels Carrying the Body of St Catherine of Alexandria, 123x228 The Egyptian Army Drowned in the Red Sea, 179x168 The Egyptian Army Submerged in the Red Sea, 130x170 Vulcan's Forge, 240x163 Moses Striking the Rock, 122x173 Moses Praying, 68x50 God the Father Blessing Adoring Angel
Wallace Collection Harvesting Putto, lunette, 49,2x64 Head of a Woman, 48,4x35,6
Musée Condé Harvesting Putto, lunette fragment, 32x41 Bust of a Woman, 29x30
Private collections Adoring Angel
References