Bedroom of Ferdinand II and Maria Theresa
The Bedroom of Ferdinand II was burned down and rebuilt after the King's poisoning
Description
The Bedroom of Ferdinand II and Queen Maria Theresa no longer corresponds to the 1799 inventory, because the room was burned and rebuilt after the death of Ferdinand II of Bourbon, the penultimate King of Naples (May 22, 1859), believed to have died of infectious disease, but most likely as a result of poisoning.
The ceiling fresco with the “Allegory of fertility”, frescoed in 1779 by Gaetano Magri and De Dominici, was also destroyed, as were all the boiserie and furnishings. Only the overdoors by De Mura appear to be original, perhaps made for another room and then reused for the royal bedroom.
King Ferdinand II of Bourbon on his deathbed. Everything seen in the photo was burned after his death because it was believed that he died of an infection and not of poisoning.
King Ferdinand II of Bourbon on his deathbed. Everything seen in the photo was burned after his death because it was believed that he died of an infection and not of poisoning.
Decorations and furnishings
The fresco
The bedroom of Ferdinand II and Queen Maria Theresa currently has a ceiling fresco in 1859 in an eclectic style with a neoclassical base and rococo elements.
It previously had another fresco, “the Allegory of fertility”, frescoed in 1779 by Gaetano Magri and De Dominici, which was then destroyed following the death of the King as explained above.
The fresco
Paintings
There is only one painting in the Bedroom, and it is located above the bed. It was made by Pompeo Batoni in 1780 and depicts the “Allegory for the death of the two sons of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon”.
The children depicted, who disappeared due to smallpox, are Marianna and Carlo Tito, eldest son and heir to the throne, both born in 1775, but died two years apart from each other; in fact the little princess perished in 1780, instead the death of Ferdinand’s failed successor dates back to 1778.
Pompeo Batoni – “Allegory for the death of the two sons of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon”, 1780
Furnishings of the bedroom of King Ferdinand II and Queen Maria Theresa
The bed is the one where, on 31 January 1836, Queen Maria Cristina of Savoy died.
