What started as a routine maintenance check in Rome’s Villa Farnesina turned into a stunning revelation when electrician Davide Renzoni uncovered hidden 17th-century frescoes behind a false ceiling. These vibrant and untouched artworks, attributed to Baroque painter Carlo Maratta and his students, were concealed above a 19th-century ceiling in what was once the living room of Agostino Chigi, a wealthy banker who commissioned the villa in the early 16th century.
Renzoni, inspecting cables in the Renaissance villa, stumbled upon the frescoes when he opened a trapdoor in the ceiling and shined a light on the forgotten artwork, revealing cherubs and detailed landscapes. His unexpected find immediately prompted a call to Virginia Lapenta, the curator of Villa Farnesina, who was overwhelmed by the discovery. “The surprise was immense,” said Lapenta, noting the presence of the Farnese family’s coat of arms in the bas-relief, linking the frescoes to the villa’s 17th-century history.
Art historians believe the frescoes were created by Maratta and his pupils, Girolamo Troppa and François Simonot, during a 1693 restoration of Raphael’s Cupid and Psyche. This discovery highlights Maratta’s involvement in lesser-known areas of the villa, hidden for centuries beneath later renovations.
While the frescoes remain inaccessible due to the confined space, they can now be explored through high-resolution images and live camera feeds, allowing art lovers a closer look at this remarkable find. In celebration of the discovery, Villa Farnesina is hosting an exhibition titled The Seventeenth Century in the Villa Farnesina, showcasing the newly found frescoes alongside other significant works, such as Pietro da Cortona’s Galatea. The exhibition runs until January 12, 2025, inviting visitors to delve into the Baroque revival of Raphael’s influence in 17th-century Rome.
