The Musical Iconography of the Private Chambers of Studiolo and Grotta of Isabella d’Este

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of certain components of the historical interior of the studiolo and grotta of Isabella d’Este, Marquise of Mantua (1474—1539). The article considers, in the imagological aspect, the decorative elements of her private chambers in the “Palazzo Ducale” as a form of personal and, at the same time, status representation of the wife of the ruler of the state and as a reflection of some aspects of the behavioral standard of the Renaissance noble lady. For the first time, the artistic design of the Mantuan studiolo (private studio)and grotta (adjoining storage room for art and rarities) is examined through extraction of musical imagery and musical symbolism, which had a special importance in authomythologization of Isabella d’Este and reflected her deep personal passion for music.Analyzing the contextual part of the allegorical painting by Lorenzo Costa the Elder (1504—1506) “Allegory of the Court of Isabella d’Este”, the article focuses on the proximity of the characters playing the “heavenly” lute and zither to the figure of Isabella d’Este. And the attainment of eternal life by Isabella, as the center of the harmonious world of wisdom and art, is considered to be the main conceptual message. The depictions of the musical instruments on the wooden intarsia are regarded in connection with the music practice of the Marquise and people around her, which is evidenced by numerous documents of the Mantuan Archive of Gonzaga. The incipit of the chanson by Ockeghem “Prenez sur moi votre exemple amoreux”, included in the decor, for the first time receives an extended interpretation as an indirect semantic message. The figures of Euterpe and Erato, with their usual flute and lyre, are, on the contrary, quite traditional and expected in this context on the doorway marble medallions. The ceiling impreses, with the enigmatic image of musical signs (viola key, metric designations and pauses), have a symbolic meaning. The article concludes that the purpose of inclusion of the musical decor in the design of studiolo and grotta is to indicate the status of Isabella d’Este as a ruler of the artistic world where music takes the main part.