The Alabaster Room. Antonio Lombardo & Old-Fashioned Sculpture
1. The Coat-of-Arms Chamber
This exhibition brings together the marble reliefs that used to decorate the small study of
Alfonso 1st d´Este, that are currently jointly owned by the Hermitage Museum, Louvre Museum and Prince of Lichtenstein
Collection. Designed by Antonio Lombardo between 1507-1515, they once decorated the covered walkway connecting the Castle to
the Duke´s Palace. The Coat-of-Arms Chamber is fitted with white marble perimeter walls fitted with shelves for
holding the works of art, some displayed in showcases, others on stands, and others still placed behind glass windows. The
"Scintille" lighting system with bare halogen lights hung across a twin cable sheltered behind sandblasted glass
creates soft lighting casting gently natural chiaro-scuro effects on the works. The lighting ratings are set in a sort of
"crescendo", more contained in the first section (where a drawing is displayed behind glass), higher in the second
section, and even brighter still in the third, as if to prepare visitors for the sunlight outside. The white marble walls
create a gentle contrast with the works´ own "worn" marble, reflecting and mirroring the light sources to
create a greater feeling of brightness and light.
Ferrara, Italy
(In collaboration w/ Arch. G. Aulenti)