Andrea della Valle
A Renaissance cardinal who left a more lasting mark as a voracious art patron, shaping Rome's architectural splendor with his collections and commissions.
1463–1534 (age 71)·Catholic cardinal·Birthday: November 29
Biography
Andrea della Valle moved through the corridors of Vatican power in the early 16th century, but his true legacy is carved in stone and pigment. Born into Roman nobility, he ascended to the cardinalate under Pope Julius II, navigating the turbulent politics of the Italian Wars and the Sack of Rome. While he held significant ecclesiastical offices, della Valle's passion was the ancient world and the burgeoning art of his time. He became one of Rome's great antiquarians, amassing a formidable collection of sculptures, inscriptions, and artifacts. His patronage extended to architecture; he commissioned the elegant Palazzo Della Valle and the restoration of the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, embedding his aesthetic vision into the city's fabric. His collection later formed a core part of the Capitoline Museums, making him an indirect founder of one of the world's oldest public art collections.
#1 When Andrea Was Born
The biggest hits of 1463
Andrea's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1463Born
1468Started school
1476Became a teenager
1479Could drive
1481Could vote
1484Turned 21
1493Turned 30
1503Turned 40
1513Turned 50
1523Turned 60
1533Turned 70
1534Died at 71
Key Achievements
- Commissioned the construction of the Renaissance-style Palazzo Della Valle in Rome.
- Amassed a vast and influential collection of classical antiquities, which he displayed in a specially designed courtyard.
- Served as Cardinal Priest of Santa Prisca and later as Bishop of Crotone and Archbishop of Crete.
- His antiquities formed a significant part of the founding collection of the Capitoline Museums in 1734.
Did You Know?
He was captured during the catastrophic Sack of Rome in 1527 and held for a substantial ransom.
The famous 'Della Valle Satyr', a Hellenistic bronze statue, was part of his collection before being lost.
He was a leading figure in the Roman Academy, a group of intellectuals dedicated to classical studies.
“True devotion is shown in the beauty we leave for others.”
