VILLA LOSCHI ZILERI MOTTERLE (1734 Arch. Muttoni o Massari)
BIRON - via Zileri 1 - tel. 0444 570141 fax 0444 964210
info@studiomotterle.com
www.studiomotterle.com
Mon-Fri: 8.00-13.00, 14.30-18.30;
In other days and hours only for groups and by booking
Admission: € 5;
groups: € 4;
elderly persons, children, students: € 3.

In 1734 Nicolò Loschi, a Vicenza nobleman, renewed his manor at Biron (now in the commune of Monteviale). The design of the new building was preparated by Francesco Muttoni, a Ticino architect working in Vicenza since the end of the previous century. Then the interiors of this villa were frescoed by the forty-year-old Giambattista Tiepolo who adorned the walls of the great staircase and of the main hall with splendid figures. According to the critics, Tiepolo's works at Biron started the mature phase of this production. The figures conceived by the Master have an allegoric character. The ceiling of the great staircase shows a theme also represented in Villa Cordellina at Montecchio: that is, "Time unveiling Truth". Time is shown as a winged old man raising a white cloth and unveiling a splendid naked woman lying down on the clouds. At the side of this scene a putto is holding Time's sandglass, whereas other two are approching the unveild Truth. In a corner the dark figure of Lie is falling downwards. The walls of the stairs are adorned by the two "false" statues of Merit and Nobility. Merit is a bearded old man holding a hook in his hand, whereas the other allegory is shown as a woman holding a small statue of the goddess Minerva. Both these figures are represented as standing inside two niches. Climbing the stairs, after Merit you can see another fresco representing "Watch triumphing over Sleep". Watch is a barefooted woman uncovering her breast; under her Sleep is lying down on the ground. The chromatic shades of blue are wonderful. Two puttos are picking some grapes from a vine. Opposite this picture another fresco shows "Innocence driving away Deception". A barebreasted young woman holding a lamb with her left hand is driving away an old man with legs shaped as snake's tail. The ceiling of the main hall celebrates "Glory among Virtues". Fame is blowing the trumpet to herald the arrival of Glory, shown as a bright an golden figure. She is surrounded by the other virtues: Justice holding sword and scales, Fortress wearing an armour, Temperance and at last Prudence. Clouds create a perspective space so that the sky seems to rise beyond the limits of the ceiling. The ceiling also shows the allegories of Intelligence and Valour. The first one is represented by a winged young man with helmet and bow, whereas valour is a bearded man stroking a lion and holding a laurel crown in his right hand. On the side walls some frames contain other allegories. "Matrimonial Harmony" is symbolized by a man and a woman with their necks tied by a double golden chain joined by a heart held by the male figure. At the foot of this scene a putto is playing with a splendid white dog. "Humility driving away Arrogance" is shown as a young woman simply dressed in front of whom a haughty and arrogant female figure holding a peacock and a mirror is walking. In the picture representing "Liberality dispensing gifts" a woman is taking some jewels from a tray held by a boy and offering them to some children. The last scene shows a handsome young man sitting, that is "Honour", being crowned with laurels by "Virtue" shown as a winged figure.