Alessandro Peretti di Montalto
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Damasceni Peretti di Montalto (1571 – June 2, 1623) was an Italian Roman Catholic Cardinal Deacon. He received the title by his uncle Felice Peretti after the latter was elected Pope Sixtus V
on April 24, 1585, in the consistory on May 13; the cardinal was then fourteen years old. The Republic of Venice
inscribed him in the Libro d'Oro
as a patrician of Venice that same year. Though he was made the permanent governor of Fermo
the following year, and was often the papal legate in Bologna
, he was not made a bishop until 1620, when he became Cardinal-Bishop of Albano. He served also as Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church (1589–1623) and Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland (named on September 19, 1589 by King Zygmunt III Waza) and of the several religious orders.
Alessandro Peretti was born at Montalto delle Marche
, the son of Fabio Damasceni and Maria Felice Mignucci Peretti, who was a niece of the pope on her mother's side. Like his great-uncle before him, Alessandro Peretti was also known as Cardinal di Montalto. His primary works as a great patron were the Villa Lante
at Bagnaia, where he contributed to the gardens a casino
matching the earlier one, and the church (though not the facade) of Sant'Andrea della Valle
in Rome, (begun in 1591), where Carlo Maderno
constructed at the Cardinal's personal expense the second-largest dome in Rome, 1608 to 1621.
His portrait bust by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
is at the Hamburg Kunsthalle. Surviving books from Cardinal Alessandro's library reflect pride in his relationship to the Pope through elaborate armorials and his perfect taste.
Cardinal Montalto was in turn the uncle of Cardinal Francesco Peretti di Montalto
(1597‑1655), raised to the purple in 1641.
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
on April 24, 1585, in the consistory on May 13; the cardinal was then fourteen years old. The Republic of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
inscribed him in the Libro d'Oro
Libro d'Oro
The Libro d'Oro , once the formal directory of nobles in the Republic of Venice, is now a respected, privately-published directory of the nobility of Italy ....
as a patrician of Venice that same year. Though he was made the permanent governor of Fermo
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
the following year, and was often the papal legate in Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, he was not made a bishop until 1620, when he became Cardinal-Bishop of Albano. He served also as Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church (1589–1623) and Cardinal Protector of the Kingdom of Poland (named on September 19, 1589 by King Zygmunt III Waza) and of the several religious orders.
Alessandro Peretti was born at Montalto delle Marche
Montalto delle Marche
Montalto delle Marche is a comune in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Italian region Marche, located about 70 km south of Ancona and about 15 km north of Ascoli Piceno...
, the son of Fabio Damasceni and Maria Felice Mignucci Peretti, who was a niece of the pope on her mother's side. Like his great-uncle before him, Alessandro Peretti was also known as Cardinal di Montalto. His primary works as a great patron were the Villa Lante
Villa Lante
Villa Lante at Bagnaia is a Mannerist garden of surprise near Viterbo, central Italy, attributed to Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola).The villa is known as the "Villa Lante"...
at Bagnaia, where he contributed to the gardens a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
matching the earlier one, and the church (though not the facade) of Sant'Andrea della Valle
Sant'Andrea della Valle
Sant'Andrea della Valle is a basilica church in Rome, Italy, in the rione of Sant'Eustachio. The basilica is the general seat for the religious order of the Theatines.-Overview:...
in Rome, (begun in 1591), where Carlo Maderno
Carlo Maderno
Carlo Maderno was a Swiss-Italian architect, born in Ticino, who is remembered as one of the fathers of Baroque architecture. His façades of Santa Susanna, St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Andrea della Valle were of key importance in the evolution of the Italian Baroque...
constructed at the Cardinal's personal expense the second-largest dome in Rome, 1608 to 1621.
His portrait bust by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
is at the Hamburg Kunsthalle. Surviving books from Cardinal Alessandro's library reflect pride in his relationship to the Pope through elaborate armorials and his perfect taste.
Cardinal Montalto was in turn the uncle of Cardinal Francesco Peretti di Montalto
Francesco Peretti di Montalto
Francesco Peretti di Montalto was an Italian Catholic Cardinal.Peretti was born to an Italian noble family. By birth he was to be the successor of his father; Prince of Venafro, Venetian patrician, Marquis of San Martino, Count of Celano and Baron of Pescina. But he was also a nephew of Cardinal...
(1597‑1655), raised to the purple in 1641.
External links
- Biographical Dictionary of the Cardinals of the Roman catholic Church:
- Rome Art Lover webpage: San Andrea della Valle