Andrea Sacchi and Cardinal del Monte

This book reveals the rediscovered frescoes of Andrea Sacchi, offering insights into their historical context and artistic significance. Andrea Sacchi and Cardinal del Monte highlights a remarkable restoration journey.

This beautifully illustrated book presents the rediscovered frescoes painted by Andrea Sacchi (1599–1661) for the loggia of Cardinal del Monte’s Roman palace near via di Ripetta, Rome. Once thought lost, these frescoes have been preserved in a private apartment in Rome, and after undergoing a significant restoration in 2010-11, they have gained renewed attention. The author, granted exclusive access to study the frescoes, has produced this comprehensive monograph that highlights their historical and artistic significance.

Accompanied by stunning photographic documentation, the book compares the frescoes with the detailed descriptions provided by the biographer Giovan Pietro Bellori. It offers insights into the iconography and style of Sacchi's work, particularly in relation to the sources he utilized. The study integrates this important commission into Sacchi’s early career, allowing readers to appreciate the context and importance of these frescoes within the broader scope of his artistic development.

The exploration of the cycle’s iconography includes a careful examination of early sources, addressing complex interpretative challenges, especially those connected to alchemy. The Palazzo di Ripetta, where these frescoes are located, also housed a fully equipped pharmacological laboratory, adding another layer of intrigue to the research. This book not only uncovers the lost treasures of Andrea Sacchi and Cardinal del Monte but also provides new archival evidence regarding Sacchi’s origins.