Aurora, Apollo and the Muses.
Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis (1701 - West Wycombe, Bucks. 1761)
Category
Architecture / Features & Decoration
Date
1754 - 1755
Materials
Lime plaster and pigment
Measurements
6 x 9 m
Collection
West Wycombe Park, Buckinghamshire
NT 807697
Summary
Wallpainting. The façade fronting the Music room takes the form of a temple front, a 4 columned Doric portico, and was erected in 1754-5 by Donowell. The pediment of the portico, and its interior are decorated with frescos by Guiseppe Borgnis but have subsequently been extensively repainted, particularly since the Second World War, as a consequence of the effects of weathering. The restoration is crude and obscures much of the original work. The ceiling decoration is thought to be a painting of Aurora, Apollo and the Muses, an adaptation of Guido Reni’s “ Aurora” in the casino of the Palazzo Rospigiosi in Rome. The central panel is flanked at the north and south ends by two smaller rectangular panels. The decoration on the vertical surfaces of the frieze consists of narrow bands of painted plaster, sandwiched between the moulded plaster of the cornices and soffits and depicts putti and arabesque decoration. The wall painting on the east-facing wall of the portico frames the door and windows of the Music Room. The decoration consists of trompe l’oeil classical architectural features that emphasise and embellish the actual architecture.
Makers and roles
Giuseppe Mattia Borgnis (1701 - West Wycombe, Bucks. 1761), artist