TASSO -- ORLANDO FURIOSO -- Angelica e Medoro -- VILLA VALMARANA -- TIEPOLO -- Canto X: ANGELICA E RUGGERO -- Canto XIX: ANGELICA E MEDORO

Speranza

The five frescoes.

Or is it rather four?

The four wall scenes are enclosed in sumptuous rocaille-style frames, which lend a greater intimacy to this room than the rooms nearby.

In the section opposite the entrance, inspired by CANTO X, RUGGERO, astride a hippogriff, swoops down from the sky to pierce the horrible sea monster that is about to hurl itself upon ANGELICA with his lance. But the dramatic event is upstaged by the sensual beauty of the naked ANGELICA chained to a rock at the edge of the sea.

The other three compartments present an idyllic depiction of the love between ANGELICA and MEDORO, which Ariosto relates in CANTO XIX.

In the first section, the sorceress ANGELICA aids the wounded MEDORO, observed by a peasant who has come to help her.

In the second section, ANGELICA carves the name of her beloved in the trunk of a tree.

In the final section, the two lovers take leave of the peasants who have sheltered them.