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Mocking of Christ (ca. 1598)

Chiesa di S. Carlo ai Catinari, Rome

Giuseppe Cesari was born in Arpino, south of Rome.  He moved to Rome with his family, and made his name there at an early age.  He became a member of the Accademia di San Luca in 1585 and was president on three occasions: in 1599, 1605 and 1629.

Caravaggio worked in his studio as a painter of fruit and flowers in 1593-4.  His other students included Francesco Alegrino.

The Cavalier d’ Arpino was probably the most important artist in Rome during  first two decades of the 17th century, when he enjoyed the esteem and patronage of Pope Clement VIII.  He designed of the mosaics (1603-12) for the dome of St Peter's and was knighted by Clement VIII during the Jubilee celebrations of 1600, in recognition of his work in San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome.

In 1607, Pope Paul V gave 107 paintings that had been confiscated in lieu of taxes from the studio of the Cavalier d’ Arpino to his nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese.

Amelia

Fresco (17th century)

The frescoes in the ex-church of Sant’ Angelo, which were attributed to the Cavalier d’ Arpino, have been destroyed.

Foligno

Copy of the Foligno Madonna (17th century)

This panel in the Museo Diocesano, which is attributed to the Cavalier d’ Arpino. formed part of the bequest by the heirs of the Roscioli family to the Duomo in 1703.   It seems that either Bartolomeo or Giovanni Maria Roscioli commissioned it when the original altarpiece (painted by Raphael in 1511) was in the Monastero di Sant' Anna. 



Narni

Visitation (early 17th century)

This altarpiece by the Cavalier d’ Arpino is on the high altar of Santa Restituta.






Perugia

Copy (1609) of Raphael’s Baglioni Deposition

Atalanta Baglioni commissioned the original altarpiece from Raphael in 1507 for the Cappella di San Matteo, San Francesco al Prato.  The Franciscans somewhat controversially sold its main panel, which depicts the transfer of the body of Christ to the sepulchre, to Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1608.  Cardinal Borghese promised to send a copy to Perugia, and made a payment to Giovanni Lanfranco for the work.  However, the copy that he actually sent to Perugia in 1609 (along with five silver lamps by way of additional compensation) is attributed to the Cavalier d' Arpino. 

The copy was recorded:

  1. ✴near the Cappella dei Baldeschi, San Francesco al Prato in 1671:

  2. ✴above the high altar of the Oratorio di San Bernardino, in the original frame or perhaps a replica of it, in 1683;

  3. ✴above a door in the chapel in San Franceso al Prato that had originally housed the original (still as part of a reconstruction of the original) in 1784 and 1787. 

Although it was listed among works to be sent to the Musei Capitolini, Rome in 1812, it was subsequently decided that it should remain in the church.  It entered the Galleria Nazionale in 1863.

Spoleto

Annunciation and Assumption of the Virgin (ca. 1626)


These small panels by Giuseppe Cesari, il Cavalier d’ Arpino are to the sides of the altar in the Cappella delle SS Icone of the Duomo.   The chapel had been inspired by the Borghese Chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, in which the Cavalier d’ Arpino had also worked.

Christ the Redeemer with saints (ca. 1600)

This panel by the Cavalier d’ Arpino in the Museo Diocesano is from the church of San Nicolò in Agriano, Norcia.  It depicts Christ in glory with SS John the Baptist, Joseph and Michael Archangel.




Terni

St Michael crushes demons (ca. 1630)

This altarpiece by the Cavalier d’ Arpino is in the Cappella di San Michele, San Valentino.






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Giuseppe Cesari, il Cavalier d’ Arpino (1568-1640)


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