ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Andrea Sacchi's Rediscovered Frescoes in Rome Palazzo à Ripetta

cultural-heritage · 2026-04-27

So, there’s this amazing discovery in Rome! A bunch of frescoes by Baroque artist Andrea Sacchi were found in a loggia at Palazzo à Ripetta, close to Piazza del Popolo. They had been hidden under poor repainting since the 1800s. Art historian Giovan Battista Fidanza stumbled upon them in 2017 while researching for a dictionary, after reading a 2012 article about them being uncovered during a renovation. These works were commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte when Sacchi was just a teenager. Restoration happened between 2010 and 2011, led by Triana Ariè. Fidanza shared his findings in a 2022 book that highlights Sacchi's early talent, which impressed notable figures of the time. Mariasole Garacci wrote about this for Artribune.

Key facts

  • Frescoes by Andrea Sacchi rediscovered in Palazzo à Ripetta, Rome.
  • Hidden under mediocre repainting since the 19th century.
  • Discovered by Giovan Battista Fidanza in 2017 while compiling a dictionary entry.
  • Commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.
  • Painted when Sacchi was under eighteen years old.
  • Restoration conducted by Triana Ariè between 2010 and 2011.
  • Publication: 'Andrea Sacchi and Cardinal del Monte' (2022) by Paul Holberton Publishing.
  • Frescoes precede Sacchi's major works like 'Miracolo di San Gregorio Magno' and 'Divina Sapienza'.

Entities

Artists

  • Andrea Sacchi
  • Caravaggio
  • Giovan Battista Fidanza
  • Giovanni Battista Passeri
  • Giovan Pietro Bellori
  • Francesco Albani
  • Annibale Carracci
  • Pietro da Cortona
  • Francis Haskell
  • Mariasole Garacci
  • Triana Ariè

Institutions

  • Università di Tor Vergata
  • Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon
  • Paul Holberton Publishing
  • Accademia di San Luca
  • Artribune
  • Palazzo Barberini
  • Basilica di San Pietro

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Palazzo à Ripetta
  • Piazza del Popolo
  • Tridente
  • Casino Ludovisi
  • Palazzo San Martino Valperga
  • Via di Ripetta

Sources