Whilst taking some pictures of the lattice ceiling by Bibiena in Chiesa di S.Maria Assunta, I was told there was an even more impressive piece of architecture by Bibiena in a little village not far from Sabbioneta near Mantua.
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
Behind the austere brick facade of the unfinished church in Villa Pasquali lies one of those little wonders that one comes across all the time in Italy. On entering into the building, you are stuck by the wonderful Rococò interior.
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa, Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
Antonio Bibiena was famous for his theatres and here we immediately enter into the theatrical play of light and shadow. Here we have four double layer cupolas with a brickwork lattice partially hiding the frescoed outer cupola behind. Cleverly placed windows mostly hidden from view illuminate the cavity.
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
The purpose of what is called the “celestial prospective” is to give a worshiper a sensation of glimpsing Paradise with its Saints and Angels floating behind the lattice inner cupola.
Work started in 1764 and the local population helped with the construction. Things did not go smoothly, the main cupola collapsed at a certain point during the works. Work resumed, and the church was finished in 1784. Lack of money meant that one of the two bell towers was not constructed and the brickwork was left bare.
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta,MN |
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| Villa Pasquale, Sabbioneta, MN |
On a rainy Sunday afternoon I was able to spend an interesting afternoon photographing this little architectural wonder.
