Grotesque
The grotesque is a decorative art form with painted, drawn or carved motifs of either bizarre creatures or subjects intermingled with scrolls of foliage substituting for columns, extravagant interlaced garlands and fanciful animals.
The inspiration of the style and the origin of the word “grotesque” comes from the discovery in Rome and its region – especially among the ruins of the Domus Aurea the unfinished palace of Nero - of painted walls buried for centuries. These were called “grotto” meaning cave or hollow. After the burning of the city of Rome in AD 64, Nero had a large palace complex built, with lush gardens and an artificial lake.
In the 15th century, a young Roman fell into a hole as he walked on Oppian hill and found himself in a sort of cave with walls covered with amazing frescoes. Young artists then explored these incredible rooms. This discovery inspired a new very fanciful style baptised “grotesque”. Famous artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Raphael and Michelangelo also climbed down into these caves and experienced the revelation of the ancient forgotten art. It is believed Raphael was inspired by these in his design of the Loggias of the Vatican.
The Grotesque was also used to decorate ceilings and walls framing large paintings such as for example in the famous stairways of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, which are speckled with creatures that are definitely grotesque.
In the 17th century, the word arabesque began being used to describe the more modern grotesque style even though the stylized arabesques clashed with the naturalistic elements and human figures of the grotto style.
- Picture 1: Grotesque, engraving of Nicoletto da Modena c.1500-1512, Victoria & Albert Museum.
- Picture 2: painted wall from the Domus Aurea, Rome.
- Picture 3: ceiling with grotesque decor, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
