Patron of The Arts
Urban and his family patronized art on a grand scale. He expended vast funds to bring polymaths like Athanasius Kircher to Rome and on a variety of works by the sculptor Bernini who was particularly favored during Urban's reign. Artistic and architectural commissions included the family palace in Rome, the Palazzo Barberini, the college of the Propaganda Fide, the Fontana del Tritone in Piazza Barberini, the cathedra in St Peters and other prominent structures in the city. He also rebuilt Santa Bibiana and the church of San Sebastiano al Palatino on the Palatine Hill. The Barberini patronised painters such as Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorrain. One of the most eulogistic of these artistic works in its celebration of his reign, is the 'Glorification of the Reign of Urban VIII' painted by Pietro da Cortona in the large vault of salone of the Palazzo Barberini.
Read more about this topic: Pope Urban VIII
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