Rome - Galleria Colonna

The huge palace of the Colonnas, one of Rome's leading noble families, which produced Pope Martin V (1417-31) and many other notable figures, was begun in the 15th century and completed after successive extensions in 1730. Within the precincts of the palace are the church of Santi Apostoli and the Galleria Colonna, built by Antonio del Grande and Girolamo Fontana in the 17th century. The gallery contains a famous collection of pictures originally founded by Cardinal Girolamo Colonna. This consists mainly of works by 17th and 18th century masters (including Veronese "Portrait of a Nobleman"; Tintoretto "Portrait of Onofrio Panvinios" and "Narcissus"; the "Portrait of Lucrezia Tomacelli Colonna" ascribed to Van Dyke and a ceiling painting by Sebastiano Ricci), together with pictures recording the achievements of the Colonna family: e.g. the victory won by Marcantonio Colonna as commander of the European fleet at the battle of Lepanto (1571) against the Turks.