Palazzo Muti
Encyclopedia
The Palazzo Muti should not be confused with the Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
in the Piazza della Pilotta which was designed by Mattia de' Rossi in 1660.
The Palazzo Muti (officially the Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' Archetto) is a large townhouse
in the Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, Rome
, Italy
, built in 1644. Together with the neighbouring Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
, it originally formed part of a complex of adjoining palazzi and other houses owned by the Muti Papazzurri family. During the 18th century this entire range of buildings was, by courtesy of the Pope, the residence of the exiled Stuart dynasty
who were resident in Rome and recognised by the Catholic Church as the rightful kings of England.
who had been commissioned to build a residence for Giovanni Battista Muti Papazzurri, a member of one of Rome's patrician
families. The principal facade
, today painted ochre
and decorated only by quoin
ing is of just three bays
, with the main entrance to the palazzo, leading to an inner courtyard, at the centre on the ground floor. The size of the courtyard, dictated by the narrow rectangular dimensions of the palazzo is in reality little more than an open lightwell
. The entrance itself is flanked by ionic columns, once surmounted by a Baroque pediment, this has since been replaced by a balcony
. The architrave of the entrance has engraved upon it the name "Balestra", a family who once owned the palazzo.
The top floor is concealed from sight by a broad cornice. The top floor is architecturally interesting, although hidden from sight at street level its three windows are divided by double pilaster
s. That such an architectural feature should be hidden insinuates that the whole facade may at one stage in its history been of a more ornate design than is apparent today. An 18th century drawing of the building (above) shows the top floor was originally lower and decorated in the Baroque
style with statuary
.
However, even it its severe design the façade betrays some internal secrets, the first floor is obviously a piano nobile
, as a hint of the importance of this floor is indicated on the exterior by, not only tall pediment
ed windows but also above them blind windows indicating the double height of the reception rooms behind them.
The house originally formed part of a complex of family properties which included two other palazzi and two more houses, one of the palazzi was the Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
which faces into the Piazza della Pilotta.
ed in Rome from 1435 when the will of Giovanni Paolo Muti mentions a casa
complete with a tower
on the site, and a painting from the early 17th century shows an older family house, with a large roof terrace
, on the site of the present palazzo. In addition to their palazzi in Rome the family also owned In addition to this the family owned also owned a villa in the Province of Viterbo
The Muti Papazurri became extinct with the death of Raffaele Muti Papazurri in 1816. The palazzo then passed through female descent into the family of the Marchese Livio Savorelli. The family name used during the 19th century was "Papazzurri Savorelli", at this time the family also owned the far larger Villa Aurelia on the Janiculum Hill in Rome (used by Garibaldi
as his headquarters) which is now the American Academy in Rome
.
The palazzo acquired its long and religious name "Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' Archetto" following an event in 1796 when a sacred
image of Madonna in a niche
in the narrow alley
to the rear of the Palazzo
was said to have moved her eyes, another version says she was weeping because the Papal States
were being invaded by France. This phenomena was acknowledged by a papal decree in 1797. Thereafter the statue became known as "Madonna dell'Archetto". The image had been painted circa 1690 by Domenico Muratori for the Marchesa Savorelli Papazzurri who lived at the Palazzo. By 1850 the painting (sometimes called the "Mater Misericordiae" had overcome her distress at the invasion of the Vatican states and was now performing miracles involving divine intervention. The Madonna had become one of the most visited sites of the Virgin Mary in Rome, as a result of this in 1850 the owners of the palazzo Count Alessandro and Countess Caterina Papazzurri Savorelli had the architect Virginio Vespignani
build the neoclassical
, domed Church of the Madonna dell’Archetto around the shrine. Today this is Rome's smallest functioning church.
The Muti Papazzurri are buried in Rome at the Church of San Marcello al Corso
, where their Baroque tomb
s and memorials still exist.
and Maria Klementyna Sobieska
as their Roman residence. The Pope
s Clement XI and Innocent XIII considered the couple to be the rightful and, more importantly, Catholic
King and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland: the cousin of Pope Innocent XIII, Francesco Maria Conti, from Siena
, was here the Gentiluomo di Camera (The chamberlain) in the little Roman Jacobite court.
For over two generations it remained the seat of the Stuart court-in-exile. It was the birthplace of James's two sons, Charles Edward Stuart
(or 'Bonnie Prince Charlie') in 1720, and Henry Benedict Stuart
(later Cardinal, Duke of York) in 1725. James Stuart died in the Palazzo in 1766 and Charles in 1788. After Charles' death, the tenancy passed to Henry, the last of the Stuart pretenders, who died in the Palazzo in 1807.
, and it is likely that the Balestra crest of a crossbow lent its name to the adjacent alley "via dell'Archetto" (Archetto being Italian for bow
). Thus the connection to the Balestra appears in two differing names of the palazzo.
During and after its occupancy by the Stuart Family it has sometimes been referred to as the Palazzo Stuart. This is given further weight by the existence of a large plaque documenting the Stuart period of the palazzo. This tablet is situated in the corridor from the main entrance leading to the courtyard.
Today the palazzo is used as offices, but the public is permitted to walk into the courtyard.
Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
This palazzo should not be confused with the Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' ArchettoPalazzo Muti Papazzurri is a Baroque palazzo in Rome. It was built in 1660 by the architect Mattia de' Rossi, a pupil of Gian Lorenzo Bernini....
in the Piazza della Pilotta which was designed by Mattia de' Rossi in 1660.
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
in the Piazza dei Santi Apostoli, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, built in 1644. Together with the neighbouring Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
This palazzo should not be confused with the Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' ArchettoPalazzo Muti Papazzurri is a Baroque palazzo in Rome. It was built in 1660 by the architect Mattia de' Rossi, a pupil of Gian Lorenzo Bernini....
, it originally formed part of a complex of adjoining palazzi and other houses owned by the Muti Papazzurri family. During the 18th century this entire range of buildings was, by courtesy of the Pope, the residence of the exiled Stuart dynasty
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
who were resident in Rome and recognised by the Catholic Church as the rightful kings of England.
Architecture
The Palazzo Muti stands on a street corner, and is constructed on four floors. The architect was Mattia de RossiMattia de Rossi
Mattia de Rossi was an Italian architect of the Baroque period, active mainly in Rome and surrounding towns.Born in Rome to a family of architects and artisans, he rose to prominence under the mentorship of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and even inherited the position as chief architect of the Fabbrica di...
who had been commissioned to build a residence for Giovanni Battista Muti Papazzurri, a member of one of Rome's patrician
Patricianship
Patricianship, the quality of belonging to a patriciate, began in the ancient world, where cities such as Ancient Rome had a class of patrician families whose members were the only people allowed to exercise many political functions...
families. The principal facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, today painted ochre
Ochre
Ochre is the term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as "red ochre". The more rarely used terms "purple ochre" and "brown ochre" also exist for variant hues...
and decorated only by quoin
Quoin (architecture)
Quoins are the cornerstones of brick or stone walls. Quoins may be either structural or decorative. Architects and builders use quoins to give the impression of strength and firmness to the outline of a building...
ing is of just three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, with the main entrance to the palazzo, leading to an inner courtyard, at the centre on the ground floor. The size of the courtyard, dictated by the narrow rectangular dimensions of the palazzo is in reality little more than an open lightwell
Lightwell
In architecture a lightwell, light well or air shaft is an unroofed external space provided within the volume of a large building to allow light and air to reach what would otherwise be dark or unventilated area...
. The entrance itself is flanked by ionic columns, once surmounted by a Baroque pediment, this has since been replaced by a balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
. The architrave of the entrance has engraved upon it the name "Balestra", a family who once owned the palazzo.
The top floor is concealed from sight by a broad cornice. The top floor is architecturally interesting, although hidden from sight at street level its three windows are divided by double pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. That such an architectural feature should be hidden insinuates that the whole facade may at one stage in its history been of a more ornate design than is apparent today. An 18th century drawing of the building (above) shows the top floor was originally lower and decorated in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style with statuary
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
.
However, even it its severe design the façade betrays some internal secrets, the first floor is obviously a piano nobile
Piano nobile
The piano nobile is the principal floor of a large house, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture...
, as a hint of the importance of this floor is indicated on the exterior by, not only tall pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
ed windows but also above them blind windows indicating the double height of the reception rooms behind them.
The house originally formed part of a complex of family properties which included two other palazzi and two more houses, one of the palazzi was the Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
This palazzo should not be confused with the Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' ArchettoPalazzo Muti Papazzurri is a Baroque palazzo in Rome. It was built in 1660 by the architect Mattia de' Rossi, a pupil of Gian Lorenzo Bernini....
which faces into the Piazza della Pilotta.
History
Muti Papazzurri family
The Muti Papazzurri are documentDocument
The term document has multiple meanings in ordinary language and in scholarship. WordNet 3.1. lists four meanings :* document, written document, papers...
ed in Rome from 1435 when the will of Giovanni Paolo Muti mentions a casa
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
complete with a tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
on the site, and a painting from the early 17th century shows an older family house, with a large roof terrace
Roof garden
A roof garden is any garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, and recreational opportunities....
, on the site of the present palazzo. In addition to their palazzi in Rome the family also owned In addition to this the family owned also owned a villa in the Province of Viterbo
Province of Viterbo
The Province of Viterbo is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Viterbo. It is bordered to the north by the Province of Grosseto and Siena, by the north-east with the Province of Terni and Rieti, in the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and south by the Province of Rome.It...
The Muti Papazurri became extinct with the death of Raffaele Muti Papazurri in 1816. The palazzo then passed through female descent into the family of the Marchese Livio Savorelli. The family name used during the 19th century was "Papazzurri Savorelli", at this time the family also owned the far larger Villa Aurelia on the Janiculum Hill in Rome (used by Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
as his headquarters) which is now the American Academy in Rome
American Academy in Rome
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
.
The palazzo acquired its long and religious name "Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' Archetto" following an event in 1796 when a sacred
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
image of Madonna in a niche
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
in the narrow alley
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
to the rear of the Palazzo
Palazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
was said to have moved her eyes, another version says she was weeping because the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
were being invaded by France. This phenomena was acknowledged by a papal decree in 1797. Thereafter the statue became known as "Madonna dell'Archetto". The image had been painted circa 1690 by Domenico Muratori for the Marchesa Savorelli Papazzurri who lived at the Palazzo. By 1850 the painting (sometimes called the "Mater Misericordiae" had overcome her distress at the invasion of the Vatican states and was now performing miracles involving divine intervention. The Madonna had become one of the most visited sites of the Virgin Mary in Rome, as a result of this in 1850 the owners of the palazzo Count Alessandro and Countess Caterina Papazzurri Savorelli had the architect Virginio Vespignani
Virginio Vespignani
Virginio Vespignani was an Italian architect.Vespignani was born in Rome. A student of Luigi Poletti, he was highly interested in classical architecture, becoming one of Roman neoclassical academism's main figures....
build the neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, domed Church of the Madonna dell’Archetto around the shrine. Today this is Rome's smallest functioning church.
The Muti Papazzurri are buried in Rome at the Church of San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso
San Marcello al Corso is a church in Rome, Italy, devoted to Pope Marcellus I. It is located in via del Corso, the ancient via Lata, connecting Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo....
, where their Baroque tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
s and memorials still exist.
Stuart occupancy
The Muti Papazzurri complex of residences was rented in its entirety at the expense of the Apostolic Camera from the Marchese Giovanni Battista Muti and his widowed mother the Marchesa Alessandra Millini Muti in 1719 for James StuartJames Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
and Maria Klementyna Sobieska
Maria Klementyna Sobieska
Maria Clementina Sobieska was a Polish noblewoman, the granddaughter of the Polish king John III Sobieski.-Biography:...
as their Roman residence. The Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s Clement XI and Innocent XIII considered the couple to be the rightful and, more importantly, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
King and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland: the cousin of Pope Innocent XIII, Francesco Maria Conti, from Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
, was here the Gentiluomo di Camera (The chamberlain) in the little Roman Jacobite court.
For over two generations it remained the seat of the Stuart court-in-exile. It was the birthplace of James's two sons, Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
(or 'Bonnie Prince Charlie') in 1720, and Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart
Henry Benedict Stuart was a Roman Catholic Cardinal, as well as the fourth and final Jacobite heir to publicly claim the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unlike his father, James Francis Edward Stuart, and brother, Charles Edward Stuart, Henry made no effort to seize the throne...
(later Cardinal, Duke of York) in 1725. James Stuart died in the Palazzo in 1766 and Charles in 1788. After Charles' death, the tenancy passed to Henry, the last of the Stuart pretenders, who died in the Palazzo in 1807.
Alternative names of the Palazzo
The various names given to the Palazzo can be confusing, especially as the Muti Papazzurri family built other residences bearing their name in Rome. The Palazzo is most often referred to by Romans simply as the Palazzo Muti or the Palazzo Balestra, the Balestra being a family who lived in the palazzo for a time. The Balestra had their name carved on a keystone above the entrance. Balestra is Italian for crossbowCrossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
, and it is likely that the Balestra crest of a crossbow lent its name to the adjacent alley "via dell'Archetto" (Archetto being Italian for bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
). Thus the connection to the Balestra appears in two differing names of the palazzo.
During and after its occupancy by the Stuart Family it has sometimes been referred to as the Palazzo Stuart. This is given further weight by the existence of a large plaque documenting the Stuart period of the palazzo. This tablet is situated in the corridor from the main entrance leading to the courtyard.
Today the palazzo is used as offices, but the public is permitted to walk into the courtyard.
