Barberinæ Aulæ Fornix Romæ Eq. Petri Berettini Cortonensis Picturis Admirandus Cuius Spirantes Imagines Et Monocromata In Hisce Delineamentis Ad Similitudinem Adumbrata Urbani VIII. Pontificis Maximi Virtutes Exprimunt. Illmo; et Excellmo; Domino Gaspari de Haro, et Gusman Marchioni de Carpio, Duci de Montoro, Comiti Duci de Olivares, Comiti de Morente Marchioni de Heliche, et cæt; Inds. Mago. Cancellrio; Ex Consilio Status, Reiq. Bellicæ Catholicæ Maiestatis, et apud Innocentium XI. summum Pontificem eius Oratori ... Jo. Jacobus de Rubeis
RA Collection: Book
Record number
03/2172
Imprint
Io. Iacobus de Rubeis Formis, Romæ ad Templ. S. M. de Pace.: [1690?]
Physical Description
9 dble. pl. (incl. t.-pl.); 425 mm. (Folio).
Responsibility Note
No plate is signed by draughtsman or engraver; but all name Cortona as source-artist.
Each carries the publisher's imprint of 'Io. Iacobus de Rubeis' (i.e. Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi).
The book is dedicated by the publisher to Gaspar de Haro et Gusman.
References
RIBA, Early printed books, 1 (1994), no. 707.
Summary Note
The plates show the ceiling decorations of the Gran Salone of the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, which Cortona painted for Francesco Barberini between 1632 and 1639. The paintings are an allegory of the divine providence as shown in the acts of Pope Urban VIII (Barberini) - a concetto suggested by the poet Francesco Bracciolini. Engravings of Cortona's Barberini ceiling were first published in G. Teti, Aedes Barberinae ad Quirinalem ... descriptae (Rome: Mascardi, 1642).
Three detailed preparatory drawings for the engravings survive - two at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (showing corner piers), one at Windsor Castle (showing the cove).
Provenance
Recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802.
Binding Note
18th-century vellum, the spine lettered 'Bourdon. Lanfranco'. Bound with Deorum Concilium In Pinciis Burghesianis Hortis and Bourdon's '[Suite des paysages]'.
Palazzo Barberini (Rome) - Ceilings - Allegories - Decoration and ornament, Italian - paintings, European - Paintings, Italian - Palaces, Italian - Interior decoration - Italy - Rome - History - 17th century
Rulers - Monarchs - Publicizing - Public relations - Italy - Rome - 17th century
Pictorial works - Italy - 17th century