Room of the Duchesse d’Étampes

Room of the Duchesse d’ÉtampesFrancesco Primaticcio

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This 1540s decoration unites fresco and stucco in a cycle on the loves of Alexander the Great. The oval scene shows Alexander taming Bucephalus, framed by elongated stucco nudes in a sinuous Mannerist style. Nearby, frescoes of Roxana and other episodes extend the allegory. Primaticcio’s synthesis of sculpture and painting epitomizes the School of Fontainebleau’s ornamental grandeur.