Begun in 1517 for the Farnese family, the Palazzo Farnese expanded in size and conception when Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (1468-1549) became Pope Paul III on October 16th 1534.
The palace's long building history involved some of the most prominent Italian architects of the 16th century, including Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo, Vignola and Giacomo della Porta.
The Coat of Arms of Pope Paul III
Several of the main rooms of the Palazzo Farnese are decorated with frescoes, such as the Sala d'Ercole (Hercules Room) and the Sala del Mappamondo (Map Room). However, the most famous frescoes are to be found in the Galleria Farnese. They are the work of Annibale Caracci (1560-1609) and depict the Loves of the Gods.
A Detail of the Cornice
The Palazzo Farnese is home to a beautiful cycle of frescoes by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609).
The Loves of the Gods by Annibale Caracci
In 1598 Cardinal Odoardo Farnese (1573-1626) commissioned Carracci, then one of the most acclaimed artists of his day, to decorate his sculpture gallery with a series of frescoes which, inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses, celebrated the loves of the gods.
The frescoes were not completed until 1608, a year before his death, and the master was assisted first by his brother Agostino, and then by several artists from his workshop, including Giovanni Lanfranco and Domenichino.