Description
From the small living room you enter the large bedroom of King Francis II. It has a large Empire-style fresco that recalls a field tent, and is equipped with furnishings from various eras, but purely in the Empire style. It was decorated during the reign of Joachim Murat.
The Bedroom (The bathroom is behind the door on the left)
Decorations and furnishings of the Bedroom of King Francis II
The fresco
The fresco (1807-1826) in the bedroom of King Francis II, by Giuseppe Cammarano, depicts “The glory of Theseus for the killing of the Minotaur” in the centre. The rest of the fresco is the work of Gennaro Bisogni, Agostino Fondi, Gaspare Mugnai.
The fresco, commissioned during the reign of Joachim Murat, consists of two parts: a “base” with a blue background decorated with Napoleonic bees, and surrounded by panels with scenes of Pompeian origin painted on a gold background in imitation of the ancient mosaic . Above this “base” there is a fake canvas that wants to reproduce the tent of a military camp, and is decorated with laurel wreaths (symbols of victory), and armor and arrows. Everything recalls the war because Gioacchino Murat was a great leader of Napoleon before becoming King of Naples.
Giuseppe Cammarano – “The glory of
Theseus for the slaying of the Minotaur”
Detail of the fresco. The figures are painted on a faux mosaic gold background
The paintings
Currently there are two paintings on sacred subjects and a royal portrait.
- Raffaele Postiglione – “Jesus heals the possessed man”, 1800-1849
- Raffaele Postiglione – “Christ calming the storm”, 1800-1849
- Unknown – “Portrait of King Francis II of Bourbon” – 1859
- Unknown – “Portrait of Queen Maria Sofia of Bavaria” – 1859
Raffaele Postiglione – “Jesus heals the possessed man”, 1800-1849
Unknown – Portrait of King Francis II of Bourbon – 1859
Raffaele Postiglione – “Christ calming the storm”, 1800-1849
Furnishings
The furniture, of extraordinary quality, is mainly in Empire style, but also contains Neoclassical and Neo-Baroque style furnishings.
As described in the Apartment of King Joachim Murat, the Empire style met with the favor of the Bourbons, who maintained it for many years. This did not happen only with the Bourbons of Naples, but all European sovereigns liked it because of its great aesthetic impact.
The bed of King Francis II
Nightstand and detail of the bed.
Fireplace with mirror – Detail. The sculpture of the fireplace is inspired by the statues of the Caryatids of the Erechtheion of the Acropolis in Athens.
Empire period chest of drawers in mahogany and gilt bronze – circa 1840
Giuseppe Antonio Sorbilli – Bust of St. Joseph – 1854. Empire style burnished and gilded bronze candelabrum – 1810-1825
Mahogany table with gilded bronzes and winged lions in gilded wood – 1810-1815. Empire style armchairs with sphinxes. Oil lamp with 4 lights – 1840-1850
Neoclassical style roller desk – 1770-1780. Note the still rococo feet. The armchair is in Empire style and has armrests with swans. On the left, an Empire document holder.
The King's Bath
The bathroom of King Francis II’s bedroom consists of a central room and two adjoining ones. In the center there is an extraordinary toilet in Carrara marble, on the left a large niche in red granite with lion heads. The furnishings are from various periods, from the Empire to the Neo-Baroque. This room was decorated starting in 1807.
Decorations and furnishings
The fresco
Fresco on a blue background with gold stars and vegetable decorations and masks on the border. In the center is a figure holding a bunch of wheat, clearly of Pompeian origin.
The fresco
Furnishings
The King’s bathroom was supplied with not only cold but also hot running water!
Detail of the marble toilet
Furnishings from various periods, Empire and Neo-Baroque styles.
Empire-style marble toilet, and bathtub with lion heads.
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