Global InformationCesare Alessandro Scaglia information
Cesare Alessandro Scaglia (1592 – May 21, 1641[1]) was an Italian cleric and diplomat of the early 17th century. He was also abbot of Staffarda Abbey (from 1603), the Abbey of St. Justus in Susa (from 1613), and the Abbey of St. Pietro di Muleggio in Vercelli (from 1616).
Cesare Alessandro Scaglia (often known as Alessandro Scaglia or Abate Scaglia) came from an influential family in the Duchy of Savoy, the Scaglia di Verrua, who had risen to prominence since the ducal capital had moved from Chambéry to Turin in 1562.
Scaglia served as an ambassador for the House of Savoy in Rome, Paris and London, also collecting antiquities for the duchy. He was also in the service of Philip IV of Spain in London (acting on behalf of Spain up to 1636) and assisted Charles I of England in negotiating a commission on the subject of Cupid and Psyche from Jacob Jordaens for the Queen's House in Greenwich. However, his support of Spain led to tensions with Victor Amadeus I when he succeeded to the Duchy of Savoy in 1630, and soon afterwards Scaglia retired to Brussels and Antwerp, both in the Spanish Netherlands.
Peter Paul Rubens (a diplomat himself) described Scaglia as "a man of the keenest intellect". Scaglia was an art collector and commissioned a portrait,[2] a Virgin and Child (showing Scaglia himself praying to them[3]) and a Deposition (intended for his tomb) from Antony van Dyck whilst in Brussels and Antwerp. There were a total of five van Dycks in his collection, which also contained works by Peter Snayers and Antonio Tempesta.
- ^ "Cesare Alessandro Scaglia - Person - National Portrait Gallery". npg.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ^ "Anthony van Dyck | Portrait of the Abbé Scaglia | NG6575 | The National Gallery, London". nationalgallery.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ^ "Anthony van Dyck | The Abbé Scaglia adoring the Virgin and Child | NG4889 | The National Gallery, London". nationalgallery.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-25.