The Saturn Room
Sala di Saturno
During the Medici time this was the first of the grand duke's private rooms where he held audiences.
In 1664-65, Ciro Ferri was asked to paint the ceiling, using designs provided by Pietro da Cortona. The decoration concluded the cycle celebrating the Medici family, illustrated in the ceilings of the "Rooms of the Planets". Here, the Medici prince was symbolically represented, by now older, accompanied by Prudence and Valor, receiving his crown from Fame and from Eternity. Above, the god Saturn flies while Hercules rises, concluding his glorious life, not unlike that of a Medici prince. In the four ovals we find episodes from the lives of Cyrus, Lycurgus, Scipione, and Silla, chosen as examples of wisdom reached with age.
In 1664-65, Ciro Ferri was asked to paint the ceiling, using designs provided by Pietro da Cortona. The decoration concluded the cycle celebrating the Medici family, illustrated in the ceilings of the "Rooms of the Planets". Here, the Medici prince was symbolically represented, by now older, accompanied by Prudence and Valor, receiving his crown from Fame and from Eternity. Above, the god Saturn flies while Hercules rises, concluding his glorious life, not unlike that of a Medici prince. In the four ovals we find episodes from the lives of Cyrus, Lycurgus, Scipione, and Silla, chosen as examples of wisdom reached with age.
Southern wall
Eastern wall
Northern wall
See also: Bandini, Fabrizio, Felice, Alberto; Il restauro dei tre soffitti delle tre sale dei pianeti a Palazzo Pitti a Firenze; OPD restauro; vol. 21 (2009), pp. 145-160.