Der verlorene Niobidenfries an der Fassade des Palazzo Milesi in Rom 1656

This drawing by Polidoro da Caravaggio is a record of a fresco that once adorned the facade of the Palazzo Milesi in Rome. Executed around 1525-27, the fresco depicted a scene from classical mythology, the story of Niobe. The choice of subject matter, drawing from classical antiquity, reflected a broader cultural trend in Renaissance Italy, a renewed interest in classical literature, mythology, and art. Powerful families, like the one that owned the Palazzo Milesi, used art to align themselves with the glories of the past. Frescoes on the facades of buildings, like this one, served as public displays of wealth, taste, and cultural knowledge. Studying records and preparatory drawings, like this one, alongside the history of the families who commissioned them, can reveal the complex social and political dynamics that shaped artistic production in Renaissance Italy. It also reveals the public role of art at the time.