Built in the park of
Cardinal Pia da Carpi, the palace was planned by Carlo
Maderno after ownership passed to Francesco Barberini in
1625. Planned as a residence for the papal family, the
building was provided with splendid gardens, making a
true and proper town house. The later intervention by
Bernini saw the construction of the central saloon (decorated
with the famous fresco by Pietro da Cortona), of the
loggia with porch below and the great staircase with
squared stairwell. The design of the windows of the
central part and the plan for the great winding
staircase can be attributed to Francesco Borromini.
Bought by the State in 1949, the palace holds the
National Gallery of Classic Art that, formed in 1895 and
recently inaugurated, collects works dating from the
12th to the 18th Centuries, belonging to noble families
(Tor/onia, Barberini, Chigi, Sciarra, etc.)
|
|
The Fornarina is one of the most
famous portraits by Raphael, whose signature (Raphael
Urbinas) is to be found on the bracelet worn by the woman.
The work ca n be dated to a period between 1518 and 1519.
Tradition has it that the person identified with the
Fornarina, the Sienese Margherita Luti, daughter of
Francesco, baker near the Settimiana gate of Rome, |
who was Raphael's lover. The
young woman was probably the one who, according to Vassari,
Raphael loved until he died, the same who the famous banker
Agostino Chigi had as a guest in his suburban villa (The
Farnesina) to keep her near the artist who couldn't work
without her. |
