Giambattista Tiepolo and “La Corsa del Carro del Sole”

When Anton Giorgio Clerici commissioned Giambattista Tiepolo to paint frescoes in the Grand Hall of his residence, the Master from Veneto faced an unprecedented challenge - create a scenic decor at the level of his established fame in a space with unusual proportions - 22 metres long and 5 metres wide. But Tiepolo persevered and transformed the ceiling into the triumphant via of the Carro del Sole. In the oldest part of Milan, from whence the road for Como once started, we can still admire an authentic marvel of the Rococo, which, within the context of the career of its author, foresaw the masterpiece of the Wurzburg Palace. The frescoed vault with its optical illusions, the splendid tapestries, the remarkable engraved wainscoting with scenes of Liberated Jerusalem by Torquato Tasso makes the Galleria Grande the beating heart of Palazzo Clerici, one of the oldest and most luxurious residences in all of Milan. Above the dazzling crystal lights, Tiepolo’s brush created a stunning vision for whoever looks up - in the infinite blue of the heavens, Apollo’s quadriga has already undertaken its voyage between the divinities of Olympus and the creatures of the Earth. Making this work even more remarkable, the allegory of the continents with its wonderfully colourful depictions of indigenous populations and exotic animals.