ROOM 9 – THE REGENCY ROOM

This room was for many years the seat of the Council of the Regency of the Opere Pie. Here, the brightly coloured decorations are reminiscent of the neo-rococo style and were probably painted around the 1840s or 1850s. A cornice painted with small diamonds containing bouquets of flowers runs along the ceiling and walls while the corners of the ceiling are painted with white pinwheel motifs. The central oval is divided into four segments and depicts a hippogriff on a sky blue background. In the centre is a woman seated next to a satyr who can be identified as Flora.

In front of the small fireplace are two 19th-century leather armchairs with authentic accessories. On the wall is a map of France showing not only the provinces and departments, but also documents, costumes and weapons of the Gauls, as indicated by the French inscription ‘France comparative en provinces et en départemens – MonumensArmes et costumesdesGaulois’. The lithograph was probably brought here by Celeste Erard during one of her trips between France and Maiolati.

The display cases contain some authentic furnishings from the Spontini home. These are French porcelain and glass or metal artefacts dating back to the first half of the 19th century, including complete tea sets with milk jugs, sugar bowls and teapots, soup tureens, vegetable warmers, cutlery rests and amphora vases. There is also a small tree from the 1700s in majolica painted with floral motifs, together with a contemporary terrine, also in painted majolica. On display is also a French-made cardboard and gold cutlery case containing fish knives, a carving fork and knives in steel, chiselled silver and ivory. Finally, a cut glass tumbler bears the inscription “Celeste” in Gothic script, as does a metal napkin ring engraved with the letter C.

Above the console table are white towels and handkerchiefs with the initials of Gaspare Spontini embroidered in red. On the wall is a portrait of the 19th-century composer by the Prussian artist Wildt.