Staande Victoria

late 1524

Moves to Mantua

Having finished his Roman commissions, Giulio agreed in late 1524 to move to Mantua, where he stayed for the rest of his life. There, as a non-native artist, he came to be called after his origin, Giulio Romano, 'the Roman' (the name is also linked to his fame as a connoisseur of Roman antiquities).

1524

Scandal over “I Modi” engraved from his drawings

According to one of many versions, in 1524 Marcantonio Raimondi published engravings after sixteen erotic drawings by Giulio; the pope had the engraver arrested and all copies destroyed, while Pietro Aretino wrote a sonnet for each position and helped Raimondi out of prison. Giulio himself, according to Vasari, escaped Pope Clement's wrath only because he had already left for Mantua.

1526

Appointed prefect of Mantua's building works

The post of prefect of building works and 'superintendent of the city streets' put him in charge of all the court's architecture and art — from frescoes to the fanciful inventions fashionable at the Mannerist courts of Europe.

1527

Escapes the Sack of Rome

His move to Mantua spared Giulio the Sack of Rome in 1527, which hugely disrupted artistic patronage in Rome and dispersed what remained of Raphael's workshop.

1530s

Remakes Mantua for the Gonzaga

In the 1530s Giulio took part in many projects to transform Mantua in keeping with the Gonzagas' ambitions, and fitted out the ducal palace, where among other things he created a courtyard and frescoes. He also reconstructed the cathedral and designed the church of San Benedetto.

2 April 1530

Festivities for Emperor Charles V at the Palazzo Te

Giulio was commissioned to design the festivities in honour of Emperor Charles V in the courtyards and rooms of the Palazzo Te. According to Vasari, his arches, comedy sets and costumes for jousts and feasts filled the emperor and all present with wonder.