Ciriaco Mattei
Encyclopedia
Ciriaco Mattei was an Italian nobleman of Rome
and of the House of Mattei and one of the most prolific art collectors of his time.
Girolamo Mattei
and Asdrubale Mattei
, Marquis di Giove (an avid art collector himself). He married Giulia Matuzzi, daughter of Pietro Matuzzi and Isabella, an illegitimate daughter of the Pamphili
family and they had two sons, Giovanni Batista Mattei and Alessandro Mattei.
where they kept portions of their extensive art collecion. He became Conservatore di Roma and in 1582 he began construction on the Villa Celimontana in Rome.
Mattei was a close friend and patron of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
and commissioned a number of works including the Supper at Emmaus, John the Baptist (Youth with a Ram) and The Taking of Christ (for which Mattei and his brother paid 125 scudi). He also supported artists such as Domenico Fiasella
.
Mattei left his vast collection to his two sons but they both died before he did. In 1610 he restructured his will
to allow for the dissemination of his collection to his brother's children. He added an entail
though, stating that no part of the furniture or furnishings considered to be a part of the Villa Mattei
should be removed so as to ensure the Villa would remain as it had been while he was alive. Future generations did, however, have the entail broken (by Pope Benedict XIV
)and the Villa's contents were eventually divided and sold.
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...
and of the House of Mattei and one of the most prolific art collectors of his time.
Family
Mattei was the son of Alessandro Mattei and Emilia Mazzatosta. He was the brother of CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Girolamo Mattei
Girolamo Mattei
Girolamo Mattei was an Italian Cardinal from the House of Mattei.Mattei was born 8 February 1547, the son of Alessandro Mattei and Emilia Mazzatosta. He was the younger brother of Ciriaco Mattei and the older brother of Asdrubale Mattei, Marquis di Giove...
and Asdrubale Mattei
Asdrubale Mattei
thumb|Portrait of Asdrubale Mattei di Giove by students of Caravaggio .Asdrubale Mattei , Duca di Giove, was an Italian nobleman of the House of Mattei, an avid art collector and a patron of Caravaggio.-Family:...
, Marquis di Giove (an avid art collector himself). He married Giulia Matuzzi, daughter of Pietro Matuzzi and Isabella, an illegitimate daughter of the Pamphili
Pamphili
The Pamphili are one of the papal families deeply entrenched in Roman Catholic Church, Roman and Italian politics of the 16th and 17th centuries ....
family and they had two sons, Giovanni Batista Mattei and Alessandro Mattei.
Art collection and residences
Mattei and his extended family took up residence at the Palazzo MatteiPalazzo Mattei
thumb|250px|right|The courtyard of the Palazzo Mattei di Giove.The Palazzo Mattei di Giove is the most prominent among a group of Mattei houses that forms the insula Mattei in Rome, Italy, a block of buildings of many epochs...
where they kept portions of their extensive art collecion. He became Conservatore di Roma and in 1582 he began construction on the Villa Celimontana in Rome.
Mattei was a close friend and patron of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
and commissioned a number of works including the Supper at Emmaus, John the Baptist (Youth with a Ram) and The Taking of Christ (for which Mattei and his brother paid 125 scudi). He also supported artists such as Domenico Fiasella
Domenico Fiasella
Domenico Fiasella was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Genoa. He was nicknamed Il Sarzana, after his birthplace.-Biography:...
.
Mattei left his vast collection to his two sons but they both died before he did. In 1610 he restructured his will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
to allow for the dissemination of his collection to his brother's children. He added an entail
Fee tail
At common law, fee tail or entail is an estate of inheritance in real property which cannot be sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the owner, but which passes by operation of law to the owner's heirs upon his death...
though, stating that no part of the furniture or furnishings considered to be a part of the Villa Mattei
Villa Mattei
The Villa Mattei or Villa Celimontana is a villa on the Caelian Hill in Rome, best known for its gardens. Its grounds cover most of the valley between the Aventine Hill and the Caelian.-Location:...
should be removed so as to ensure the Villa would remain as it had been while he was alive. Future generations did, however, have the entail broken (by Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
)and the Villa's contents were eventually divided and sold.