URBINO
The Ducal Palace is the main monument of
Urbino: characterized by the two facades (one in the Square
– in 15th Century style – and one that looks towards
the valley, daringly constructed and projecting out of the
rock – in a style which brings to mind traces of oriental
architecture, thanks to the two “torricini” (little
towers); begun a little after 1450, due to the initiative
of Duke Federico da Montefeltro (there are famous, profile
portraits of the Duke and his wife, Battista Sforza - preserved
today in the Uffizi (Gallery or Offices) of Florence –
a work of Piero della Francesca, his court artist), regarding
the remainder of the ancient stronghold, the following people
were involved in its realization and successive phases, but
their efforts are immeasurable, unknown and indefinable in
terms of what they contributed: Luciano Laurana (1468-1472),
Francesco di Giorgio Martini and a long time afterwards, (1563)
Girolamo Genga, who added a floor to the construction.
The Courtyards of the Palace are also famous, in particular
the so called Cortile d’Onore (Honour Courtyard): one
of the most perfect architectural accomplishments of the 15th
Century.
The interior of the Palace, only partly preserves works carried
out by numerous artists who worked for Duke Federico: the
Communione degli Apostoli (Communion of the Apostles) by Giusto
di Gand is one of them, as well as a part of the paintings
of the Illustrious Men, which was painted by Fiammingo, together
with the Spanish artist, Pedro Berruguete, in the Little Ducal
Study, refined environment, which still maintains today, its
famous marquetry decorative lines with perspective effects,
probably carried out by B. Pontelli over designs of various
artists - definitely amongst which, Botticelli and Francesco
di Giorgio Martini. The following sculptural decorations date
back to the same period by Ambrogio da Milano and Domenico
Rosselli, whilst the residence in Urbino of Piero della Francesca
remains documented in the Palace collection, in the form of
tablets depicting the Flagellation of Christ and the Madonna
of Senigallia. Bramante has been attributed the two small
Sacelli delle Muse (Sacella of the Muse) and del Perdono (of
Forgiveness), which can also be found inside the Palace.
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