Benedetto Pamphili
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Benedetto Pamphili (often with the final ''long i'' orthography, Pamphilj) (25 April 1653 – 22 March 1730) was an Italian
cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal most commonly refers to * Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of three species in the family Cardinalidae ***Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'', the common cardinal of ...
, patron of the arts and
librettist A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major ...
for many composers.


Life

Pamphili was born in Rome on 25 April 1653 into the powerful Pamphili family. His father was Camillo Pamphili who had also been a cardinal but renounced his post to marry Olimpia Aldobrandini. Pamphili was Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Rome from 1678 until
Pope Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI (; ; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 until his death on 12 August 1689. Political and religious tensions with ...
made him cardinal-deacon of Santa Maria in Portico in the
consistory Consistory is the anglicized form of the consistorium, a council of the closest advisors of the Roman emperors. It can also refer to: *A papal consistory, a formal meeting of the Sacred College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church *Consistor ...
of 1 September 1681. He later opted for the tituli of Sant'Agata in Suburra, San Cesareo in Palatio,
Santa Maria in Cosmedin The Basilica of Saint Mary in Cosmedin (; Latin: Santa Maria ''de Schola Graeca'') is a minor basilica, minor basilican churches of Rome, church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the Mary, mother of Jesus, Virgin Mary. It is located in the rione (neig ...
and Santa Maria in Via Lata. Innocent XI made him Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura on 23 March 1685. He became Cardinal Legate of
Bologna Bologna ( , , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It is the List of cities in Italy, seventh most populous city in Italy, with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. Its M ...
in 1690, cardinal protodeacon in 1693, as well as archpriest of the
basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...
of
Santa Maria Maggiore Santa Maria Maggiore (), also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or the Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, is one of the four Basilicas in the Catholic Church#Major and papal basilicas, major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim C ...
and of
San Giovanni in Laterano The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (officially the ''Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica, Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of A ...
. In 1704 he was made librarian of the
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana The Vatican Apostolic Library (, ), more commonly known as the Vatican Library or informally as the Vat, is the library of the Holy See, located in Vatican City, and is the city-state's national library. It was formally established in 1475, alth ...
and archivist of the Archivio Segreto Vaticano. He died in 1730 and is buried at
Sant'Agnese in Agone Sant'Agnese in Agone (also called Sant'Agnese in Piazza Navona) is a 17th-century Baroque church in Rome, Italy. It faces onto the Piazza Navona, one of the main urban spaces in the historic centre of the city and the site where the Early Christ ...
.


Patronage

He was in the first rank of Rome's cultural and artistic life in the 17th and 18th centuries, as demonstrated by his belonging to the prestigious accademia dell'Arcadia, under the pseudonym ''Fenicio Larisseo''. He formed the major collection of Flemish paintings in the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, whose interior (by
Carlo Fontana Carlo Fontana (1634/1638–1714) was an Italian people, Italian"Carlo Fontana."
''Encyclopæ ...
) and chapel he had built. He was particularly interested and skilled in music, not only writing several libretti himself for operas with music by (among others)
Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque music, Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan sch ...
, but also gave hospitality and opportunity to several composers (such as
Arcangelo Corelli Arcangelo Corelli (, also , ; ; 17 February 1653 – 8 January 1713) was an List of Italian composers, Italian composer and violinist of the middle Baroque music, Baroque era. His music was key in the development of the modern genres of Sonata a ...
, Giovanni Lorenzo Lulier, Alessandro Melani, Antonio Maria Bononcini and Carlo Francesco Cesarini, who all began their musical careers under his protection), funding publication and performances of their works. His patronage was also expressed during
George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
's stay in Rome, when he struck up a lasting friendship with the composer and began an interesting correspondence with him. Handel dedicated a series of
cantatas A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning ...
to the cardinal, as well as the famous 1707 oratorio '' Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno'', with a libretto by the cardinal.''Trionfo del tempo e del disinganno. Oratorio in due parti, libretto di Benedetto Pamphilij, musica di Georg Friedrich Handel'', Ed. Teatro Regio, Torino 1998.


Works: libretti and scores

*''S. Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Oratorio da cantarsi nel giorno della sua festa alla presenza dell'eminentiss. sig. card.le de' Medici''. Tinassi, Rome, 1687. *''Conversione di S. M. Maddalena. Oratorio a tre voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by
Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque music, Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan sch ...
. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693. *''S. Francesca Romana. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell'oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Alessandro Melani. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693. * ''Il sagrifizio di Abel. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della Congregazione dell'Oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Alessandro Melani. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693. *''S. Rosa di Viterbo del sacro ordine di S. Francesco. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di san Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Alessandro Melani. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693. *''Il martirio di S. Vittoria. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella chiesa de' padri della congregazione dell' oratorio di S. Filippo Neri di Firenze'', music by Giovanni del Violone. Vangelisti, Florence, 1693. *''L' Ismaele soccorso dall' angelo. Oratorio a cinque voci da cantarsi nella venerabible compagnia dell' angiolo Raffaello detta la scala'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Vangelisti, Florence, 1695. *''Il trionfo della grazia o vero La conversione di S.M. Maddalena oratorio a tre voci da cantarsi nel nobil collegio Tolomei di Siena'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Miccioni, Florence, 1699. * ''Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Oratorio dedicato da' convittori del collegio Clementino alla madre suor Maria Grazia di S. Clemente carmelitana''. Bernabo, Rome, 1705. * ''Il trionfo della Vergine assunta in cielo. Oratorio a quattro voci da cantarsi nella venerabil compagnia della Purificazione di Maria Vergine e S. Zanobi detta di S. Marco'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Vangelisti, Florence, 1706. *'' Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno'', music by
George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
, Rome, summer 1707. *''Il trionfo della Grazia. Oratorio'', music by Antonio Maria Bononcini. eredi Cosmeroviani, Vienna, 1707. * ''Sedecia re di Gerusalemme. Oratorio per musica da cantarsi nelle stanze de' paggi d'onore di sua altezza reale dedicato da' medesimi al serenissimo gran duca''. Borghigiani, Florence, 1707. *''Il figliol prodigo. Oratorio'', music by Carlo Francesco Cesarini. Bernabo, Rome, 1708. *''Maria Maddalena de' pazzi. Oratorio a quattro voci fatta cantare da monsignor Sebastiano Pompilio Bonaventura vescovo di Montefiascone, e Corneto alla presenza delle reali maestà di Giacomo Terzo re della Gran Bretagna, e Maria Clementina Sobieschi di lui regia consorte'', music by Alessandro Scarlatti. Seminario, Montefiascone, 1719.


See also

* Pamphilj Palace (Albano)


References


External links


''Le Cantate per il cardinale Pamphili (1706–1707)'' by Handel


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamphili 1653 births 1730 deaths 18th-century Italian cardinals Benedetto Italian librettists Italian philanthropists Italian patrons of music Italian art collectors Writers from Rome Italian art patrons