The Galleria Spada is a museum in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, which is housed in the

Palazzo Spada The Palazzo Spada is a palace located on Piazza di Capo Ferro #13 in the rione Regola of Rome, Italy. Standing very close to the Palazzo Farnese, it has a garden facing towards the Tiber river. The palace accommodates a large art collection, t ...

on Piazza Capo di Ferro. The palazzo is also famous for its façade and for the forced perspective gallery by Francesco Borromini. The gallery exhibits paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. A state museum, it is managed by the

Polo Museale del Lazio The Polo Museale del Lazio (literally 'Museum Center of Lazio') is an office of Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Its seat is in Rome in the Palazzo Venezia. History The office was established on August 29, 2014 and started to work on Dece ...

History

The building now housing the Galleria Spada was originally built in 1540 for Cardinal Girolamo Capodiferro. Bartolomeo Baronino, of Casale Monferrato, was the architect, while Giulio Mazzoni and a team provided lavish stuccowork inside and out. The palazzo was purchased by Cardinal Spada in 1632. He commissioned the Baroque architect Francesco Borromini to modify it for him, and it was Borromini who created the masterpiece of forced perspective optical illusion in the arcaded courtyard, in which diminishing rows of columns and a rising floor create the visual illusion of a gallery 37 meters long (it is 8 meters) with a lifesize sculpture at the end of the vista, in daylight beyond; the sculpture is 60 cm high. Borromini was aided in his perspective trick by a mathematician. The building was purchased in November 1926 by the Italian State to house the gallery and the State Council. The Galleria was opened in 1927 in the Palazzo Spada. It closed during the 1940s, but reopened in 1951 thanks to the efforts of the Conservator of the Galleries of Rome, Achille Bertini Calosso and the Director,

Federico Zeri Federico Zeri (12 August 1921 – 5 October 1998) was an Italian art historian specialised in Italian Renaissance painting. He wrote for the Italian newspaper '' La Stampa'', and was a well known television-personality in Italy. Zeri was born i ...

. Zeri was committed to locating the remaining artwork that had been scattered during the war, as he intended to recreate the original layout of the 16th–17th version of the gallery, including the placement of the pictures, the furniture and the sculptures. Most of the exhibited artwork comes predominantly from the private collection of Bernardino Spada, supplemented by smaller collections such as that of Virgilio Spada.Autori vari, "Guida alla Galleria Spada". In

Description

The museum is located on the first floor of Palazzo Spada, in the wing that used to belong to Cardinal Girolamo Capodiferro. The Cardinal had built the museum over the historical remains of his family's former home that had been established in 1548. ;Room I The room is called the Room of the

Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

s because of its fifty inscriptions describing the lives of select pontiffs, as commissioned by Cardinal Bernardino. It is also known as the Room with the Azure Ceiling because the ceiling is covered with a turquoise canvas divided into many little compartments marked "camerini da verno" (the local dialect ''camerini da verno'' is translated in Italian as ''camerini di inverno'', 'winter cabins' in English). The ceiling coffers' decorations date back to 1777. Among the paintings in this room are: *''Portrait of Cardinal Bernardino Spada'' (1631) by Guido Reni *''Portrait of Cardinal Bernardino Spada'' (1631) by

Guercino Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666),Miller, 1964 better known as Guercino, or il Guercino , was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna. The vi ...

*''Portrait of Cardinal Fabrizio Spada (1643–1717)'' (1754) by Sebastiano Ceccarini *Two Still Lifes (1714) by Onofrio Loth *Four Ovidian mythological scenes by Giuseppe Chiari **''Apollo and Daphne'' **''

Latona In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Leto (; grc-gre, Λητώ , ''Lētṓ'', or , ''Lātṓ'' in Doric Greek) is a goddess and the mother of Apollo, the god of music, and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.Hesiod, ''Theogony'404–409/ref ...

curses the Lycians transforming them into Frogs'' **''Mercury entrusts Bacchus to the Nymphs'' **''Bacchus and Ariadne'' *Four ''

vedute A ''veduta'' (Italian for "view"; plural ''vedute'') is a highly detailed, usually large-scale painting or, more often, print of a cityscape or some other vista. The painters of ''vedute'' are referred to as ''vedutisti''. Origins This genre ...

'' (landscapes) by Hendrik van Lint *Four battle scenes by

Jacques Courtois Jacques Courtois or Giacomo Cortese, called il Borgognone or le Bourguignon (12 ?December 162114 November 1676) was a Franche-Comtois–Italian painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He was mainly active in Rome and Florence and became known as th ...

;Room II :This room was created along with Room III. The upper part of the walls were decorated with friezes in tempera on canvas by

Perino del Vaga Perino (or Perin) del Vaga (nickname of Piero Bonaccorsi) (1501 – October 19, 1547) was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Late Renaissance/ Mannerism. Biography Perino was born near Florence. His father ruined himself by gambling, a ...

. The other parts of the walls that were originally painted with

paneling Panelling (or paneling in the U.S.) is a millwork wall covering constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components. These are traditionally interlocking wood, but could be plastic or other materials. Panelling was developed in antiquity to make ro ...

are now missing. Among the works in this room are: *Fresco frieze (1542) by

, now replaced by friezes (1635) by Andrea Gennaroli and (1636) by François Perrier *''Road to Calvary'' (c. 1500) by

Marco Palmezzano Marco Palmezzano (1460–1539) was an Italian painter and architect, belonging to the Forlì painting school, who painted in a style recalling earlier Northern Renaissance models. He was mostly active near Forlì. Biography Palmezzano was ...

*''Portrait of a Botanist'', ''Nobleman'', and ''King David'' (1570) by Bartolomeo Passerotti *''Portrait of a Violinist'' (c. 1515) by

Titian Tiziano Vecelli or Vecellio (; 27 August 1576), known in English as Titian ( ), was an Italian (Venetian) painter of the Renaissance, considered the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, nea ...

*Four Stories of the Old Testament by Andrea Donducci *Some Madonnas (16th century) by the Umbrian School *''The Visitation'' by Andrea del Sarto *''Portrait of Pope Julius III'' (c. 1550) by

Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta Girolamo is an Italian variant of the name Hieronymus. Its English equivalent is Jerome. It may refer to: * Girolamo Cardano (1501–1576), Italian Renaissance mathematician, physician, astrologer and gambler * Girolamo Cassar (c. 1520 – after ...

*''Saint Cristopher and Saint Luke'' (c. 1510) by

Amico Aspertini Amico Aspertini, also called Amerigo Aspertini, was an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor whose complex, eccentric, and eclectic style anticipates Mannerism. He is considered one of the leading exponents of the Bolognese School of paintin ...

;Room III :This room is called the "Gallery of the Cardinal". It was designed by Paolo Maruscelli in 1636 and 1637, together with Room II, to house the art collection of Bernardino Spada. The ceiling is beamed and French windows lead into galleries, one of which has an iron railing overlooking the large garden. Among the paintings here are: *Frescoes depicting Allegories of the Four Continents, Elements, and Seasons; Trophies and Armor; scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses in Frieze (1698–1699) by Michelangelo Ricciolini *''Allegory of Architecture, Sculpture and Painting offering gifts to Minerva, protector of Arts'' also by Ricciolini *''Landscape with Deer-hunt'' (1550–1560) by Niccolò dell'Abate *''Vestals'' (1670) by Ciro Ferri *''Landscapes with Windmills'' (1607) by

Jan Brueghel the Elder Jan Brueghel (also Bruegel or Breughel) the Elder (, ; ; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman. He was the son of the eminent Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. A close friend and frequent collabora ...

*''The Kidnapping of Helen'' copy of original by Guido Reni, painted by

Giacinto Campana Giacinto Campana (born c. 1600, Bologna) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He trained first with Francesco Brizio, then with Francesco Albani. He moved to Poland to paint for King Władysław IV Vasa, and died in Poland. Sources

...

*''The Meeting of Mark Antony and Cleopatra'' (1702) by

Francesco Trevisani 200px, ''Portrait of Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni ''by Francesco Trevisani. The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham">Barnard_Castle.html" ;"title="Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle">Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, England. Frances ...

*''The Massacre of the Innocents'' and ''The Sacrifice of Iphiginea'' (circa 1640) by

Pietro Testa Pietro Testa (1611–1650) was an Italian High Baroque artist active in Rome. He is best known as a printmaker and draftsman. Biography He was born in Lucca, and thus is sometimes called ''il Lucchesino''. He moved to Rome early in life. O ...

*''The Astronomers'' (1645) by Niccolò Tornioli *''Triumph of the Name of Jesus'' (c. 1679), a sketch for the ceiling of the Gesù by

Giovanni Battista Gaulli Giovanni Battista Gaulli (8 May 1639 – 2 April 1709), also known as Baciccio or Baciccia (Genoese nicknames for ''Giovanni Battista''), was an Italian artist working in the High Baroque and early Rococo periods. He is best known for his grand ...

*''The Death of Dido'' (1631) by

;Room IV :This final room was built over a wooden gallery overlooking the large garden. It houses paintings by the

Caravaggisti The Caravaggisti (or the "Caravagesques") were stylistic followers of the late 16th-century Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. His influence on the new Baroque style that eventually emerged from Mannerism was profound. Caravaggio never establi ...

Artworks

The most important artworks are: *

Michelangelo Cerquozzi Michelangelo Cerquozzi, known as Michelangelo delle Battaglie (18 February 1602 – 6 April 1660) was an Italian Baroque painter known for his genre scenes, battle pictures, small religious and mythological works and still lifes. His genre s ...

: ''The Revolt of Masaniello'' *

Giovan Battista Gaulli Giovanni Battista Gaulli (8 May 1639 – 2 April 1709), also known as Baciccio or Baciccia (Genoese nicknames for ''Giovanni Battista''), was an Italian artist working in the High Baroque and early Rococo periods. He is best known for his grand ...

(Baciccia): ''Christ and the Samaritan'' * Artemisia Gentileschi: ''Saint Cecilia''; ''The Virgin and Child'' *

Orazio Gentileschi Orazio Lomi Gentileschi (1563–1639) was an Italian painter. Born in Tuscany, he began his career in Rome, painting in a Mannerist style, much of his work consisting of painting the figures within the decorative schemes of other artists. After ...

: ''David with the Head of Goliath'' *

: ''Portrait of Cardinal Bernardino Spada'' * Giovanni Lanfranco: ''Cain and Abel'' *

Giovanni Andrea Donducci Giovanni Andrea Donducci (1575–1655), also known as Mastelletta, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School (painting). His father was a maker of vats (''mastelli''). Born in Bologna, he trained in the Carracci ''Academy degli In ...

(Mastelletta): ''Tales'' *

Parmigianino Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 150324 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (, , ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker active in Florence, Rome, B ...

(school): ''Three Heads'' *

Mattia Preti Mattia Preti (24 February 1613 – 3 January 1699) was an Italian Baroque artist who worked in Italy and Malta. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Saint John. Life Born in the small town of Taverna in Calabria, Preti was called ''Il Ca ...

: ''Christ Tempted by Satan''; ''Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery'' * Guido Reni: '' Portrait of Cardinal Bernardino Spada''; ''Saint Jerome'' *

Pieter van Laer Pieter Bodding van Laer (christened 14 December 1599, Haarlem – 1641 or later) was a Dutch painter and printmaker. He was active in Rome for over a decade and was known for genre scenes, animal paintings and landscapes placed in the environs o ...

(il Bamboccio): ''Storm''; ''Nocturne'' Furthermore, work by: *

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens (; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat from the Duchy of Brabant in the Southern Netherlands (modern-day Belgium). He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradi ...

* Albrecht Dürer * Caravaggio *

Domenichino Domenico Zampieri (, ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (, ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters. Life Domenichino was born in Bologna, son of a sho ...

* Annibale Carracci * Salvator Rosa * Francesco Solimena The Heaven

Globe A globe is a spherical model of Earth, of some other celestial body, or of the celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but unlike maps, they do not distort the surface that they portray except to scale it down. A model glo ...

and the Earth Globe, dating back to the first decades of 18th century, made by the Dutch cartographer

Willem Blaeu Willem Janszoon Blaeu (; 157121 October 1638), also abbreviated to Willem Jansz. Blaeu, was a Dutch cartographer, atlas maker and publisher. Along with his son Johannes Blaeu, Willem is considered one of the notable figures of the Netherlandis ...

, are also interesting highlights of the museum.

Gallery

File:Portrait of Bernardino Spada (by Guido Reni) – Galleria Spada.jpg, Guido Reni, ''Portrait of Cardinal Bernardino Spada'' File:Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652), Madonna alletant al Nen (1613-14), Galeria Spada, Roma.jpg, Artemisia Gentileschi, ''The Virgin and Child'' File:Parmigianino, tre teste.jpg,

, ''Three Heads'' File:Tiziano, ritratto di musico, galleria spada.jpg,

, ''Portrait of a Musician'' File:Orazio Gentileschi - David Contemplating the Head of Goliath (Galleria Spada).jpg,

, ''David Contemplating the Head of Goliath'' File:Baugin Lubin, Still-Life with Candle.jpg, Baugin Lubin, ''Still-Life with Candle''

References

External links