Camerino Farnese

The Choice of Hercules (1596) by Annibale Carracci

The Camerino Farnese is a Fresco cycle (a series of frescos done about a particular subject) that emerged from the decision to paint the ceiling of the Camerino in Rome, before the summer of 1595. The Camerino is on the first, or principal, floor of the Palazzo Farnese, and measures slightly more than fifteen by thirty feet.

Instead of proceeding with the original plans for the Alessandro Farnese cycle, the Farnese Gallery frescoes glorifying their father's deeds would have to wait until the arrival of the book of drawings which Odoardo Fialetti had asked Cardinal Ranuccio Farnese to send him; in the meantime Annibale Carracci was to be given as his first task, the decoration of the cardinal's own study.

Frescoes of Camerino Farnese

• Hercules bearing the globe

  Hercules resting

  Ulysses and Circe

  Ulysses and the Sirens

  Chastity

  Intelligence

  Security

  Piety

  Perseus and Medusa

  Catanian Brothers

  Justice

  Temperance

  Fortitude

  Prudence

Gallery

• 
  Ulysses and Circe - - Annibale Carracci - 1597
• 
  Ulysses and the Sirens - Annibale Carracci - 1597
• 
  Perseus and Medusa - Annibale Carracci - 1597
• 
  Catanian Brothers - Annibale Carracci - 1597

Further reading

• Martin, John Rupert (1965). The Farnese Gallery. Princeton University Press.