![Coat of Arms of Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Coat_of_Arms_of_Cardinal_Benedetto_Pamphili.svg)
Benedetto Pamphili (often with the final ''long i'' orthography, Pamphilj) (25 April 1653 – 22 March 1730) was an Italian
cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
, patron of the arts and
librettist
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...
for many composers.
Life
Pamphili was born in Rome on 25 April 1653 into the powerful
Pamphili
The House of Pamphili (often with the final ''long i'' orthography, Pamphilj) was one of the papal families deeply entrenched in Catholic Church, Roman and Italian politics of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Later, the Pamphili family line merged w ...
family. His father was
Camillo Pamphili
Camillo Francesco Maria Pamphili (21 February 1622 – 26 July 1666) was an Italian Catholic cardinal and nobleman of the Pamphili family. His name is often spelled with the final ''long i'' orthography; Pamphilj.
Early life
Pamphili was ...
who had also been a cardinal but renounced his post to marry
Olimpia Aldobrandini
Olimpia Aldobrandini (20 April 1623 – 18 December 1681) was a member of the Aldobrandini family of Rome, and the sole heiress to the family fortune.
Biography
Donna Olimpia Aldobrandini was born 20 April 1623, the daughter of Giorgio Aldob ...
.
Pamphili was Grand Prior of the
Order of St John of Jerusalem
The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...
in Rome from 1678 until
Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI ( la, Innocentius XI; it, Innocenzo XI; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 to his death on August 12, 1689.
Poli ...
made him cardinal-deacon of
Santa Maria in Portico
Santa Maria in Campitelli or Santa Maria in Portico (''Santa Maria in Portico di Campitelli'') is a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the narrow Piazza di Campitelli in Rione Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy. The church is served by the Clerics Re ...
in the
consistory
Consistory is the anglicized form of the consistorium, a council of the closest advisors of the Roman emperors. It can also refer to:
*A papal consistory, a formal meeting of the Sacred College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church
*Consistory ...
of 1 September 1681.
He later opted for the tituli of
Sant'Agata in Suburra,
San Cesareo in Palatio
San Cesareo in Palatio or San Caesareo de Appia is a titular church in Rome, near the beginning of the Appian Way. It is dedicated to Saint Caesarius of Terracina, a 2nd-century deacon and martyr.
History Origins
In the 4th century, Emperor Va ...
,
Santa Maria in Cosmedin
The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin ( it, Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin or ''de Schola Graeca'') is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy. It is located in the rione of Ripa.
History
According to Byzantine historian Andrew Ekonomo ...
and
Santa Maria in Via Lata
Santa Maria in Via Lata is a church on the Via del Corso (the ancient Via Lata), in Rome, Italy. It stands diagonal from the church of San Marcello al Corso.
It is the Station days for Tuesday, the fifth week of lent.
History
The first Christi ...
.
Innocent X
Pope Innocent X ( la, Innocentius X; it, Innocenzo X; 6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death in January ...
made him Prefect of the
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura () is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church (apart from the pope himself, who as supreme ecclesiastical judge is the final point of appeal for any ecclesiastical judgment). In additio ...
on 23 March 1685. He became
Cardinal Legate
300px, A woodcut showing Henry II of England greeting the pope's legate.
A papal legate or apostolic legate (from the ancient Roman title ''legatus'') is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic ...
of
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label= Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nat ...
in 1690, cardinal protodeacon in 1693, as well as archpriest of the
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
of
Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Saint Mary Major ( it, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, ; la, Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris), or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Major papal basilica as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the larges ...
and of
San Giovanni in Laterano
The Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran ( it, Arcibasilica del Santissimo Salvatore e dei Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista in Laterano), also known as the Papa ...
.
In 1704 he was made librarian of the
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
The Vatican Apostolic Library ( la, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, it, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana), more commonly known as the Vatican Library or informally as the Vat, is the library of the Holy See, located in Vatican City. Formally es ...
and archivist of the
Archivio Segreto Vaticano. He died in 1730 and is buried at
Sant'Agnese in Agone
Sant'Agnese in Agone (also called Sant'Agnese in Piazza Navona) is a 17th-century Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the historic centre of the city and the site where the Early Christia ...
.
Patronage
He was in the first rank of Rome's cultural and artistic life in the 17th and 18th centuries, as demonstrated by his belonging to the prestigious
accademia dell'Arcadia
The Accademia degli Arcadi or Accademia dell'Arcadia, "Academy of Arcadia" or "Academy of the Arcadians", was an Italian literary academy founded in Rome in 1690. The full Italian official name was Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi.
History
F ...
, under the pseudonym ''Fenicio Larisseo''. He formed the major collection of Flemish paintings in the
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
The Doria Pamphilj Gallery is a large art collection housed in the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, between Via del Corso and Via della Gatta. The principal entrance is on the Via del Corso (until recently, the entrance to the gallery was f ...
, whose interior (by
Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana (1634 or 1638–1714) was an Italian architect originating from today's Canton Ticino, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture.
Biography
There seems to be no proof that ...
) and chapel he had built.
He was particularly interested and skilled in music, not only writing several
libretti
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...
himself for operas with music by (among others)
Alessandro Scarlatti
Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan school of opera.
...
, but also gave hospitality and opportunity to several composers (such as
Arcangelo Corelli
Arcangelo Corelli (, also , , ; 17 February 1653 – 8 January 1713) was an Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era. His music was key in the development of the modern genres of sonata and concerto, in establishing the preeminence of ...
,
Giovanni Lorenzo Lulier
Giovanni Lorenzo Lulier, nicknamed Giovannino del Violone (''Little John of the Violone'') (c. 1662 – 29 March 1700) was a Baroque music, Baroque Italian composer, cellist and trombone player of Spanish descent.
Life
Lulier was born and died ...
,
Alessandro Melani
Alessandro Melani (4 February 1639 – 3 October 1703) was an Italian composer and the brother of composer Jacopo Melani, and castrato singer Atto Melani. Along with Bernardo Pasquini and Alessandro Scarlatti, he was one of the leading composers ...
,
Antonio Maria Bononcini
Antonio Maria Bononcini (18 June 1677 – 8 July 1726) was an Italian cellist and composer, the younger brother of the better-known Giovanni Bononcini.
Bononcini was born and died at Modena in Italy. Like his brother, he studied with Giovanni Pa ...
and
Carlo Francesco Cesarini
Carlo Francesco Cesarini, (c.1666 – after 2 September 1741) was an Italian composer born in San Martino al Cimino near Viterbo and active in Rome from 1690. In 1690 he entered into the service of Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili as the director of ...
, who all began their musical careers under his protection), funding publication and performances of their works. His patronage was also expressed during
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
's stay in Rome, when he struck up a lasting friendship with the composer and began an interesting correspondence with him. Handel dedicated a series of
cantatas
A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
The meaning of t ...
to the cardinal, as well as the famous 1707 oratorio ''
Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
''The Triumph of Time and Truth'' is the final name of an oratorio by George Frideric Handel produced in three different versions across fifty years of the composer’s career:
''Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (The Triumph of Time and Disi ...
'', with a libretto by the cardinal.
[''Trionfo del tempo e del disinganno. Oratorio in due parti, libretto di Benedetto Pamphilij, musica di Georg Friedrich Handel'', Ed. Teatro Regio, Torino 1998.]
Works: libretti and scores
*''S. Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Oratorio da cantarsi nel giorno della sua festa alla presenza dell'eminentiss. sig. card.le de' Medici''. Tinassi, Rome, 1687.
*''Conversione di S. M. Maddalena. Oratorio a tre voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by
Alessandro Scarlatti
Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan school of opera.
...
. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693.
*''S. Francesca Romana. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell'oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by
Alessandro Melani
Alessandro Melani (4 February 1639 – 3 October 1703) was an Italian composer and the brother of composer Jacopo Melani, and castrato singer Atto Melani. Along with Bernardo Pasquini and Alessandro Scarlatti, he was one of the leading composers ...
. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693.
* ''Il sagrifizio di Abel. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della Congregazione dell'Oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Alessandro Melani. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693.
*''S. Rosa di Viterbo del sacro ordine di S. Francesco. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di san Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Alessandro Melani. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693.
*''Il martirio di S. Vittoria. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by
Giovanni del Violone. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693.
*''L' Ismaele soccorso dall' angelo. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella venerabible compagnia dell' angiolo Raffaello detta la scala'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Vangelisti, Florence, 1695.
*''Il trionfo della grazia o vero La conversione di S.M. Maddalena oratorio a tre voci da cantarsi nel nobil collegio Tolomei di Siena'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Miccioni, Florence, 1699.
* ''Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Oratorio dedicato da' convittori del collegio Clementino alla madre suor Maria Grazia di S. Clemente carmelitana''. Bernabo, Rome, 1705.
* ''Il trionfo della Vergine assunta in cielo. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella venerabil compagnia della Purificazione di Maria Vergine e S. Zanobi detta di S. Marco'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Vangelisti, Florence, 1706.
*''
Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno
''The Triumph of Time and Truth'' is the final name of an oratorio by George Frideric Handel produced in three different versions across fifty years of the composer’s career:
''Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (The Triumph of Time and Disi ...
'', music by
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
, Rome, summer 1707.
*''Il trionfo della Grazia. Oratorio'', music by
Antonio Maria Bononcini
Antonio Maria Bononcini (18 June 1677 – 8 July 1726) was an Italian cellist and composer, the younger brother of the better-known Giovanni Bononcini.
Bononcini was born and died at Modena in Italy. Like his brother, he studied with Giovanni Pa ...
. eredi Cosmeroviani, Vienna, 1707.
* ''Sedecia re di Gerusalemme. Oratorio per musica da cantarsi nelle stanze de' paggi d'onore di sua altezza reale dedicato da' medesimi al serenissimo gran duca''. Borghigiani, Florence, 1707.
*''Il figliol prodigo. Oratorio'', music by
Carlo Francesco Cesarini
Carlo Francesco Cesarini, (c.1666 – after 2 September 1741) was an Italian composer born in San Martino al Cimino near Viterbo and active in Rome from 1690. In 1690 he entered into the service of Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili as the director of ...
. Bernabo, Rome, 1708.
*''Maria Maddalena de' pazzi. Oratorio a quattro voci fatta cantare da monsignor Sebastiano Pompilio Bonaventura vescovo di Montefiascone, e Corneto alla presenza delle reali maestà di Giacomo Terzo re della Gran Bretagna, e Maria Clementina Sobieschi di lui regia consorte'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Seminario, Montefiascone, 1719.
References
External links
''Le Cantate per il cardinale Pamphili (1706–1707)'' by Handel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamphili
1653 births
1730 deaths
18th-century Italian cardinals
Benedetto
Benedetto is a common Italian name, the equivalent of the English name Benedict. Notable people named Benedetto include:
People with the given name
* Benedetto Accolti (disambiguation), several people
* Benedetto Aloi (1935–2011), American ...
Italian librettists
Italian philanthropists
Italian patrons of music
Italian art collectors
Writers from Rome
Italian art patrons