Museo Spada Gallery

Welcome to the Spada Gallery.

The Spada Gallery is a truly unique place. It is an excellent example of 17th-century Roman collecting and, at the same time, one of the most important international collections of Baroque art. It is particularly interesting because it is located in a private residence. The atmosphere here today is the same as it was in the times when this place served as the home for Cardinal Bernardino Spada (1594–1661) and Cardinal Fabrizio Spada (1643–1717), who were primarily responsible for forming this collection.

Four richly decorated rooms contain paintings by extremely renowned artists such as Titian, Parmigianino, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Guido Reni, Guercino, and Annibale Carracci. Also located here are unique masterpieces, such as the "Portrait of a Botanist" by Bartolomeo Passerotti, "The Astronomers" by Nicolò Tornioli, as well as the large sketch by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, "The Triumph of the Name of Jesus," which served as the model for one of the most important religious decorative ensembles of the Roman Baroque.

Room 4 presents a well-organized exhibition of Italian and foreign painting from the Caravaggio School, including works by Orazio Gentileschi and Artemisia Gentileschi, Bartolomeo Cavarozzi, Trophime Bigot, and Valentin de Boulogne. This room also features an outstanding collection of works by the artists of the "Bamboccianti" group, including the magnificent historical scene "The Revolt of Masaniello" by Michelangelo Cerquozzi. Another remarkable painting is the rare still life by the French artist Lubin Baugin.

The exhibits are arranged in an antique manner: they occupy entire walls or are displayed on large, richly decorated 17th-century taborets (stools) and tables.