NB : IMAGE OF SALVIATI LUNETTE IS  NOT AVAILABLE 
Apologies, the reproduction of this lunette will not be published until the end of October 2004. The image of a c. 1600 print below is just a guideline.

 

Midas, A.Caron Philostratus c. 1600

LUNETTE 4 -Come Mida ebbe le orecchie d'asino "Midas with the ears of an Ass"
after Francesco Salviati c. 1560

NB : IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE Apologies, the reproduction of this lunette will not be published until the end of october 1999. The description below is just a guideline.

Ovid, Metamorphoses 11: 146-193

King Midas of Phrygia sits on his throne to the left of the composition. In the centre Pan and Apollo are seen arguing. Midas sprouted the ears of an Ass as punishment for having angered Apollo. The king had disagreed with the verdict of a musical competition between Apollo and Pan, when the judge, a mountain god called Timolus favoured Apollo. 

Any information about the whereabouts of the lunettes can be directed to Raichel Le Goff of Trinity College, Oxford who is conducting research on the Palazzo. All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. You can e-mail R. Le Goff or you can write to her at:
A.pt BARBERINI, 20 via dei Benci, Florence 50122 Italy. Telephone 055-242521
 

 Click on the links below to see the reproductions of the four lunettes and to read more about them

1. Le pieridi trasformate in cornacchie "The Pierids transformed into Crows"

2. Aracne sfida Minerva "Minerva Challenged by Arachne"

3. Atteone trasformato in cervo "Actaeon transformed into a Stag"

4. Come Mida ebbe le orecchie d'asino "Midas with the ears of an Ass"
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