Palazzo Muti Papazzurri
Encyclopedia
This palazzo should not be confused with the Palazzo Muti e Santuario della Madonna dell' Archetto
Palazzo 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 is thought it was constructed for the newly married Pompeo Muti Papazzurri and Maria Isabella Massimo. A print of 1699 shows a large townhouse built around an open cour d'honneur
, the court being entered through a triumphal arch
at the centre of a Baroque screen linking the two flanking wings. The screen still remains but has today had rooms built above it, thus completely altering the open appearance of the palazzo to a plain closed façade.
During the 18th century the palazzo formed the centre of a family complex of properties which were rented in their entirety to the Stuart
s, pretender
s to the British throne; thus for a time the palazzo was the home of a court
in exile.
In 1909 the palazzo was heavily restored which has changed de' Rossi's architectural concept of the original design by removing the pediment
s to the windows and the statuary
decorating the roofline.
The 17th and 18th century interior decoration of the palazzo has been preserved complete with their fresco
ed ceilings. The gallery, one of the principal reception rooms, has frescos depicting scenes from classical mythology
attributed to Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi
and Niccolò Berrettoni
. Grimaldi was one of the most fashionable painters of his day having worked extensively for Cardinal Mazarin.
Today the palazzo houses the Pontifical Biblical Institute
.
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
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...
in 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...
. It was built in 1660 by the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Mattia de' Rossi, a pupil of 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...
.
It is thought it was constructed for the newly married Pompeo Muti Papazzurri and Maria Isabella Massimo. A print of 1699 shows a large townhouse built around an open cour d'honneur
Cour d'Honneur
Cour d'Honneur is the architectural term for defining a three-sided courtyard, created when the main central block, or corps de logis, is flanked by symmetrical advancing secondary wings, containing minor rooms...
, the court being entered through a triumphal arch
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crowned with a flat entablature or attic on which a statue might be...
at the centre of a Baroque screen linking the two flanking wings. The screen still remains but has today had rooms built above it, thus completely altering the open appearance of the palazzo to a plain closed façade.
During the 18th century the palazzo formed the centre of a family complex of properties which were rented in their entirety to the Stuart
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...
s, pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
s to the British throne; thus for a time the palazzo was the home of a court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
in exile.
In 1909 the palazzo was heavily restored which has changed de' Rossi's architectural concept of the original design by removing the 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...
s to the windows and the 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...
decorating the roofline.
The 17th and 18th century interior decoration of the palazzo has been preserved complete with their fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
ed ceilings. The gallery, one of the principal reception rooms, has frescos depicting scenes from classical mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
attributed to Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi
Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi
Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi was an Italian architect and painter, named Il Bolognese from the place of his birth. Grimaldi was a relative of the Carracci family, under whom it is presumed he first apprenticed....
and Niccolò Berrettoni
Niccolò Berrettoni
Niccolò Berrettoni was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He trained with Simone Cantarini then worked with Carlo Maratta. Among his paintings in Rome was a Madonna with St...
. Grimaldi was one of the most fashionable painters of his day having worked extensively for Cardinal Mazarin.
Today the palazzo houses the Pontifical Biblical Institute
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
.