Chiericati Palace

Palazzo Chiericati

Architect: Andrea Palladio

Address: Piazza Matteotti 37/39, Vicenza, Italy

Web:www.museicivicivicenza.it

Investor:Girolamo Chiericati

Completion:1550-57

museums, galleries

single-family houses

In 1557, when the investor died, construction had to be halted for two decades. Palladio was unsure if the palace would ever be completed, so he initially did not include the building in his Four Books on Architecture. Later, construction work was resumed by Girolamo's son Valerio Chiericati, and the palace was eventually completed in 1680 according to Palladio's original design by Carlo Alessandro Borella.

“In Vicenza, in the square commonly called the Island, Count Valerio Chiericato, knight and esteemed nobleman of this city, built according to the following design. This building has a loggia at the front on the lower level that occupies the entire facade; the ground floor rises five feet above the ground, which was done so that basements and other rooms belonging to the comfort of the house could be placed beneath it, as not all could be positioned underground because the river is not too far away, and also so that the upper floors could enjoy the beautiful location in front. The larger rooms have their vaults high according to the first type of vault height; the middle ones are vaulted with lunettes and have vaults as high as those of the larger ones. The chambers are also vaulted and are of half height. All of these vaults are adorned with stucco detailing of excellent workmanship by the hand of Mr. Bartolommeo Ridolfi, a Veronese sculptor, and paintings by the hand of Mr. Domenico Rizzo and Mr. Battista Veneziano, men exceptional in this field. The hall is located above in the middle of the facade and occupies the central part of the lower loggia. It is high up to the roof, and since it slightly protrudes, it has doubly columns under the corners; on both sides of this hall are two loggias, one on each side, which have their ceilings or coffers adorned with beautiful painted fillings and create a magnificent impression. The first floor of the building is Doric and the second Ionic.”

sv. II, kap. III, str. 92-94

Palladio, Andrea. Four Books on Architecture. State Publishing House of Beautiful Literature, Music and Art, Prague 1958

Palazzo Chiericati is an impressive Renaissance palace in the northern Italian city of Vicenza, designed by Andrea Palladio. Construction for the Chiericati family began in 1550 and was not completed until the 17th century. Palazzo Chiericati is one of Palladio's most significant works and is among the most famous landmarks in Vicenza. Palazzo Chiericati is built in a style typical of Palladio, that is, in the Renaissance style, where he drew on ancient Roman architecture as his source of inspiration. The palace was built on the site of a wooden structure for livestock and a market for wood. It was designed to serve as a representative residence for the Chiericati family. The palace is located on the edge of the historic core, where several other significant Renaissance buildings can also be found. Palazzo Chiericati has a rectangular shape and is divided into three floors. The first floor served as living quarters, while the second floor housed galleries with portraits of the Chiericati family. The third floor was designated for the library. The façade is divided into three sections. The central part slightly protrudes from the floor plan, and both wings have loggias adorned with two rows of columns stacked one on top of the other. Doric columns are used in the lower floor, while Ionic columns are on the higher one. One of the main features of the palace is also the courtyard, which is a typical element of Palladio's work. The courtyard is surrounded by arcades decorated with ancient columns and cornices. The interior of Palazzo Chiericati is adorned with frescoes and artworks that are characteristic of Renaissance art. The palace also houses rare books and antiques that are part of the Chiericati family's library. Palazzo Chiericati has been renovated and modified several times throughout its history to meet contemporary needs. In 1855, the Chiericati family sold the palace to the city of Vicenza, and it now serves as a museum with art collections and historical artifacts. Overall, Palazzo Chiericati is an important monument of Renaissance architecture. Due to its significance, it has also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the entire Palladian territory in Vicenza and Venice.

Dominika Hejdová

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