Room 2 – The library
The work of Flemish master Frans Floris introduce the former library of the Palace.
The library
Prince Ercole Michele Branciforti of Butera and Pignatelli (1752-1814), collector of oriental gems, created the lower part of this library in walnut. The upper part was installed in 1899, as confirmed by a date discovered when dismantling a shelf during the room’s restoration. Beneath Martorana’s ceiling depicting the Triumph of Flora, old master paintings are on show.
Cerano
The half part-skinned male corpse is by Giovanni Battista Crespi, otherwise known as Il Cerano. It dates back to about 1630.
Codazzi and Gargiulo
The painting by Viviano Codazzi and Domenico Gargiulo, which represents a whimsical gladiatorial fight, is from 1630.
Frans Floris
The work of Flemish master Frans Floris is painted on the front and back. On one side, Floris realised a self-portrait with two Roman emperors discussing pieces of antiquity, and a very modern and mysterious representation of a battle on the other side.
The Poiriers
The Japanese paper casts in the wall cabinet were made by the Poiriers in 2018 from Roman sarcophagi in Palermo’s Archaeological Museum and sculptures from Villa Giulia.