Castello del Buonconsiglio monumenti e collezioni provinciali

Library

A spacious and airy room which was destined to hold approximately one thousand volumes collected by Cles with the advice of the most illustrious scholars of the time, among which was Erasmus of Rotterdam. The decoration of the eighteen deep coffers of the wooden ceiling that were carried out by Dosso Dossi reflects the Prince-Bishop’s humanist aspirations. Half-length portraits of great poets, philosophers and wise men of antiquity and of the Middle Ages are depicted leaning against a trompe-l’oeil parapet; only twelve paintings currently remain. The four Doctors of the Western Church in their small studies overflowing with codicils and books are pictured on the smaller walls; these frescoes are unfortunately in bad condition.

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