Cardinal Scipione Borghese

Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577–1633) was an influential Italian nobleman and church official during the early 17th century. He was a prominent patron of the arts and a significant collector, commissioning masterpieces from artists like Caravaggio and Bernini. As a cardinal, he held high church authority, but his tenure was also marked by political power and sometimes controversial influence. His collection formed the core of the Borghese Gallery in Rome, which remains a major art museum today. Borghese’s legacy combines religious, artistic, and political significance, exemplifying how church leaders of his time often played key roles in the arts and governance.