Andrea Sacchi (1599 - 1661)

The Miracle of Saint Gregory (copy)
original in the Vatican Pinacoteca

Andrea Sacchi was born near Rome in 1599. It is thought that he first studied in the workshop of Benedetto Sacchi who adopted him as his son. He later went on to study under the direction of Guiseppe Cesari and Francesco Albani.

From 1620 until 1626 Cardinal de Monte, the wealthy patron who discovered Caravaggio, employed Sacchi to carry out commissions, one being the altarpiece of the Vision of St Isidoro, which still hangs at the main altar in the church of Sant'Isidoro a Capo le Case in Rome.

Another regular patron was Cardinal Antonio Barberini, nephew of Maffeo Barberini, Pope Urban VIII. He commission Sacchi to paint the ceiling fresco of the Allegory of Divine Wisdom in Palazzo Barberini and two altarpieces for the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.
Carlo Maratta was Sacchi's most famous pupil who completed many of his former teacher's commissions when later in life he suffered from nervous breakdowns and gout.
He died in Rome in 1661.

Andrea Sacchi Art in Rome
Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini
Palazzo Barberini Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
Pinacoteca Vaticana
San Carlo ai Catinari
Palazzo Quirinale
Battistero Lateranese
Galleria Borghese
Sant'Isidoro a Capo le Case
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
Santa Maria in Monticelli