Palazzo Leoni, Bologna

Palazzo Leoni
General information
Location	Bologna, Italy

The Palazzo Leoni is a Renaissance style palace located on Via Marsala #31, in front of the outlet of Via Mentana, in central Bologna, region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The apse of the church of San Martino, is across the street.

The site was acquired in 1549 by Camillo Leoni Nordoli, and construction began by 1569 until 1583, commissioned by Camillo's brother Girolamo. The house was inherited by Girolamo's son, Vincenzo (1523-1600), who commissioned much of the fresco decoration. Vincenzo served as president of the Accademia degli Ardenti.

The architect is unknown, but some details suggest Antonio Morandi, known as il Terribilia, while other attribute it to Gerolamo da Treviso.

The interior frescoes mainly date from the late Renaissance or Mannerist period. Previously a fresco of the Nativity (circa 1550), painted by Nicolò dell’Abate, was located in the entrance. But now only an engraving of a much repainted version exists by Gaetano Gandolfi. The frescoes in the main floor rooms are attributed to the studio or followers of Nicolò dell’Abate, and depict events from the Iliad and the Classical Roman epic of Aeneid. The panels in the main salon include:

The Anteroom has twelve scenes from the Aeneid, the first two scenes are now lost, but known from engravings:

In 1709, with the death of the last male Leoni, the palace was inherited by Count Pier Paolo Malvezzi Locatelli, who had married Maria Caterina Leoni. One of his sons was the cardinal Vincenzo Malvezzi Locatelli, who became president of the Accademia Filarmonica. During the 1600s, the upper salon was used for meetings and performances by the Accademia dei Ravvivati, founded by Francesco Albergati Capacelli.

In the 18th through 19th century, the palace had a number of owners from the painter Giuseppe Sedazzi, to the Marchesini family and finally to the Collegio di Spagna. The palace in 2011 was used by the Institute of Beni Culturali as a library.

...
Wikipedia