Malta and Archbishop of Naples before becoming a
cardinal in 1545.)
The pronounced humanist inflection of the Caprarola
frescoes—their melding of ancient mythological imagery
with that of Christianity—
reflects powerfully the
mind of Caro—finely
trained upon culture in
the highest and broadest
sense. Caro is described
by one historian as a
Knight of Malta "…no
other papal courtier could
rival for wide-reaching
contacts in the world of
letters."
The
fresco
cycles
juxtapose the triumphs of
Alexander the Great with
those of the Farnese. In the
active summer suite is the
Sala dei Fasti Farnesiani
(Room of Farnese Deeds),
decorated by the brothers
Taddeo and Federico
Zuccari, portraying Francis
I of France and Charles V, two monarchs constantly
at war with each other, with whom Cardinal Farnese
worked, as diplomat, to resolve peacefully their conflicts.
Many other deeds of the Farnese, notably marriages,
are depicted in the room.
HYLAND
