Paper short abstract:

Around 1732 the Genoese nobleman Stefano Durazzo commissioned a great fresco cycle depicting his deeds as Magistrate at the service of the Republic of Genoa.The chosen iconographies are all linked to the water element and were a fundamental "manifesto" to lead Stefano Durazzo to become Doge in 1734.

Paper long abstract:

1734. Stefano Durazzo became Doge of the Republic of Genoa, voted by a large number of people in the Council. His rich Palace testifies the great "political campaign" he made through the years before, with the help of the furnishing of his house (perfectly known today thanks to his inventory, dated 1744) and the great fresco decorations. To remember his public charges, like Galleys Magistrate, War Magistrate, Sea Protector, he commissioned to the Genoese painter Domenico Parodi (1672-1742) a great fresco cycle describing him in his deeds: the peacekeeping of the Genoa's territory by land and sea (terra marique). For this reason, he was first represented as Neptune, sleeping after the fight, and - in the other room - the lands possessed by the Republic are symbolised by the four great rivers by which are surrounded. Stefano Durazzo appears therefore to his contemporaries as a great 'lord of waters', the right person to become the new Doge of the Republic.