A decade of research and restoration into the hidden frescoes of the Prince’s Palace is offering a striking new perspective on Monaco’s artistic and political history…
Opened on Thursday, March 19 by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II in the presence of Princess of Hanover, the symposium Images d’une souveraineté de la Renaissance brings together historians, conservators and researchers to share the findings of work begun in 2013.
What started with the discovery of traces of pigment on a wall in the State Apartments has grown into a major heritage project. Nearly 600 square metres of late Renaissance frescoes have since been uncovered, studied and restored, revealing a decorative programme that reshapes understanding of the palace in the 16th century. More than simply ornamental, the frescoes are now seen as visual statements of Monaco’s emerging sovereignty during a turbulent period marked by rivalry between the Valois and Habsburg powers.
Through mythological figures including Hercules, Ulysses, Europa and Pegasus, the paintings reflect the ambitions and values of Monaco’s rulers at a time when the medieval fortress was being transformed into a Renaissance palace. Researchers believe the works were heavily influenced by Genoese artistic circles, with evidence pointing to the painter Nicolosio Granello, though some questions remain open.
Speakers at the symposium stressed the importance of the multidisciplinary work behind the project, combining historical, material and iconographic study with highly specialised conservation methods. The frescoes will continue to be accessible to the public under carefully managed preservation conditions, with a dedicated exhibition at the palace planned for 2027, alongside further publications and a forthcoming book.
Images: Prince’s Palace IG