Lecture 2 - The Colonna Family: Courtiers & Connoisseurs

From the early sixteenth century the military, diplomatic and civilian duties of the family were increasingly complimented by cultural exchange and artistic patronage. The poetess Vittoria Colonna was a spiritual friend and confidant of Michelangelo. In the early seventeenth century Prince Filippo I Colonna began the transformation of the family palace into a noble residence, enriched throughout the century by the leading architects and artists of the day. Italian and foreign artists including Antonio Tempesta, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci, Jan Breughel the Elder, Paul Brill and Gaspar van Wittel (also known as Vanvitelli) all worked for the family, their art still magnificently displayed in the family’s private home, Palazzo Colonna.

During Rome’s more recent heady transition from capital of a papal state to headquarters of the Savoy monarchy, and now the embodiment of the Italian Republic, the Colonna have continued to embellish their palace, a model of modern adaptation. At the same time, they have also continued to fulfill a variety of pubic roles as ambassadors, mayors of Rome and Prince Assistants to the Papal Throne - roles which to this day act still as a bridge linking this illustrious family to both church and city.