In 1797 this palace was used as the French embassy, and on the 28th of December was the scene of a terrible skirmish, when Joseph Buonaparte, then ambassador, attempted to interfere between the French democratic party and the papal dragoons, and when young General Duphot, who was about to be married to Buonaparte's sister-in-law, was shot by his side in a balcony. These events, after which Joseph Buonaparte immediately demanded his passports and departed, were among the chief causes which led to the invasion of Rome by Berthier, and the imprisonment of Pius VII.[385]
The collections now in the palace have all been formed since the death of Queen Christina. The Picture Gallery is open to the public from nine to twelve, every day except Sundays and holidays.
The following criticism, applicable to all the private galleries in Rome, is perhaps especially so to this:
"You may generally form a tolerably correct conjecture of what a gallery will contain, as to subject, before you enter it,—a certain quantity of Landscapes, a great many Holy Families, a few Crucifixions, two or three Pietàs, a reasonable proportion of St. Jeromes, a mixture of other Saints and Martyrdoms, and a large assortment of Madonnas and Magdalenes, make up the principal part of all the collections in Rome; which are generally comprised of quite as many bad as good paintings."—Eaton's Rome.
The 1st room is chiefly occupied by pretty but unimportant landscapes by Orizzonti and Vanvitelli, and figure pieces by Locatelli. We may notice (the best pictures being marked with an asterisk):
1st Room.—
24, 26. Canaletti.
2nd Room.—
12. Madonna and Child in glory: Elis. Sirani.
11, 27. Fruit: Mario di Fiori.
15. Landscape: G. Poussin.
17, 19. Landscapes with Cattle: Berghem.
20. Pietà: Lod. Caracci.
41. S. Andrea Corsini: Fr. Gessi.
3rd Room.—
1. Ecce Homo: Guercino.*
9. Madonna and Child: A. del Sarto.
13. Holy Family: Barocci.
16, 20. Rock Scenes: Salvator Rosa.
17. Madonna and Child: Caravaggio.
23. Sunset: Both.*
26. Holy Family: Fra. Bartolomeo.
43. Two Martyrdoms: Carlo Saraceni.
44. Julius II.: after Raphael.
The portrait of Julius II. (della Rovere) is a replica or copy of that at the Pitti Palace. There are other duplicates in the Borghese Gallery, at the National Gallery in England, and at Leigh Court in Somersetshire. Julius II. ob. 1513.
49. St. Appollonia: Carlo Dolce.
50. Philip II. of Spain: Titian.
52. Vanity: Carlo Saraceni.*
88. Ecce Homo: Carlo Dolce.
4th Room.—
1. Clement XII. (Lorenzo Corsini, 1730—40): Benedetto Luti.
4. Cupid asleep: Guido Reni.
11. Daughter of Herodias: Guido Reni.*
16. Madonna: Guido Reni.
22. Christ and the Magdalen: Barocci.
27. Two Heads: Lod. Caracci.
28. St. Jerome: Titian.
40. Faustina Maratta—his daughter: Carlo Maratta.
41. Fornarina: Giulio Romano, after Raphael,—replica of the picture at Florence.
42. Old Man: Guido.
44. A Hare: Albert Durer.*
55. Death of Adonis: Spagnoletto.