Father Time

1622 · Luogo di lavoro

Mantua

1625

Moves to Rome with the Duke of Mantua's introduction

After a short stay in Venice he goes to Rome with an introduction from the Duke of Mantua to Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, nephew of the late pope, who employs him for a time to restore ancient statues from his famous collection.

1625–1634

Years of struggling for recognition in Rome

Bernini and his studio, backed by Borghese and Barberini patronage, win most of the major Roman commissions, while Algardi struggles for recognition for nearly a decade: he takes small commissions — terracotta and a few marble portrait busts — and supports himself with small works like crucifixes. He is aided by friends, among them Pietro da Cortona and his fellow Bolognese Domenichino; he was also a friend of François Duquesnoy, Andrea Sacchi and Nicolas Poussin.

1625–1654 · Luogo di lavoro

Rome

1644

Innocent X draws him to the papal court

With the death of the Barberini pope Urban VIII and the accession of the Pamphilj pope Innocent X, the Barberini fall into disfavor and Bernini receives fewer commissions; Algardi, by contrast, is embraced by the new pope and the pope's nephew Camillo Pamphilj. His portraits are highly prized, their formal severity contrasting with Bernini's vivacity, and his large bronze of Innocent X is now in the Capitoline Museums.

1650

Meets Velázquez; commissions from Spain

He meets Diego Velázquez, who obtains commissions for his work from Spain: four chimney-pieces and the figures of the fountain of Neptune in the gardens of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, and the tomb of the Count and Countess de Monterey in the Augustinian monastery at Salamanca.