The patio

The patio was the place where Béatrice welcomed her visitors and held her receptions.

Its architecture is inspired by that of Italian Renaissance villas. Most of the pink columns supporting the arches are made from Verona marble; the remainder are metal columns supporting the structure. Béatrice elected to conceal the latter with a clever trompe-l’œil technique, imitating the characteristic veins of pink marble.

Elements from churches or convents punctuate the décor of this room, the style of which is in stark contrast to the rooms surrounding it.

The decoration on the arches of the gallery surrounding the patio is copied from a Venetian palazzo. The suspended ceiling was originally decorated with a trompe-l’œil sky.