Where can I see this portrait?

It hangs at the Borghese Gallery in Rome. In 2016 it was reunited with its companion portrait of Cardinal Giulio Sacchetti.

Who was Marcello Sacchetti?

Marcello Sacchetti was Cortona's first patron in Rome, the papal treasurer under Urban VIII. His family's support established the artist's career.

When was this portrait painted?

Cortona created this work around 1626, during his early years in Rome. A 1630 document records payment for this and nine other Sacchetti family portraits.

What are the dimensions of this painting?

The oil on canvas measures 133 x 98 cm (approximately 52 x 39 inches). The companion portrait of Giulio Sacchetti has similar dimensions.

Where Is Marcello Sacchetti? Museum Location

This painting by Pietro da Cortona portrait of Marquis Marcello Sacchetti around 1626. Sacchetti was the artist's first patron in Rome, the man who launched his career. According to Cortona's biographers, a gifted copy of Raphael's Galatea fresco brought the young artist to the wealthy Florentine's attention.

The portrait was painted as a companion piece to one of Marcello's brother, Cardinal Giulio Sacchetti. Both share similar dimensions and compositional approach. A 1630 payment document records that Cortona received payment for ten portraits of the Sacchetti family, including this one. The silk handkerchief Marcello holds and the table visible in the composition hint at his interest in antiquities.

The oil on canvas measures 133 x 98 cm and hangs at the Borghese Gallery in Rome. The painting entered the Borghese collection in the early 19th century via the dealer Pietro Camuccini. In 2016, the companion portrait of Giulio, long held by the Sacchetti family, was donated to the gallery, reuniting the pair after four centuries.