Narcissus and Echo in Liguria. The embodiment of Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Villa Durazzo Faraggiana di Albissola Marina

Abstract

This paper explores the influence of Ovid's Metamorphoses on the Villa Durazzo Faraggiana in Albissola Marina, Liguria. It examines the interplay between text, materiality, and space, focusing on the Galleria delle Stagioni and its mythological decorations. Through textual and visual analysis, as well as material examination, the study reveals, how mythology becomes embedded in the physical environment of the villa, immersing viewers in the narrative conveyed through artistic objects. The Villa Durazzo Faraggiana is situated amidst the Ligurian landscape, and its decoration, including the mirror depicting Narcissus, showcases the interaction between Ovidian text and visual art. By comparing the text and the mirror, the study uncovers additional elements not explicitly depicted in the mirror, highlighting the narrative structure of the artwork. The paper concludes by emphasizing the contrast between naturalism and artificiality in both Ovid's text and the mirror's representation, underscoring the villa's role as an Arcadian place and a site of artistic creation and representation.