A masterpiece of Roman Baroque, the Galleria Colonna was commissioned in the mid-1600s by Cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew Lorenzo Onofrio, and inaugurated in 1700 by Philip II Colonna. Originally designed by Antonio del Grande, it was later enhanced by Bernini, Paolo Schor, and Carlo Fontana.
The gallery was created to celebrate the Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto (1571), with Commander Marcantonio II Colonna depicted throughout the Great Hall and the Room of the Battle Column.
The collection includes works by Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (The Beaneater), Guercino, Albani, Muziano, and Guido Reni, while ceiling frescoes by Gherardi, Coli, Ricci, and Chiari honor Colonna’s role at Lepanto.
