Gigants 

Giulio Romano painted this fresco, Giganti, around 1530. In it, we see a scene of violent struggle, possibly an illustration of a mythologized battle, set against the backdrop of a lavishly decorated interior. The social conditions that shaped Giulio Romano's art were deeply embedded in the political and cultural landscape of Renaissance Italy, where wealthy patrons like royal families and the church, commissioned artists to create works that reflected their power and status. Romano was employed in the service of the Gonzaga family at the Palazzo del Te in Mantua. The frescoes were made to impress visitors with the family's wealth and their familiarity with classical stories. Note the influence of classical Roman styles in the architectural features, costumes and subject matter. Understanding the context in which art is created is crucial. By consulting historical texts, biographies, and studies of patronage, we can better appreciate how artists like Giulio Romano navigated the complex social world of their time, and how these paintings came to be.