Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577–1633) 1631 - 1632

This is Giuliano Finelli’s marble bust of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, made in Rome, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The sculpture captures the likeness of the powerful Cardinal, nephew of Pope Paul V and a major patron of the arts. Finelli’s naturalistic style departs from the idealized representations common in earlier periods, reflecting a new interest in capturing individual personality. The choice of marble, a material prized since antiquity, links Borghese to a classical tradition of power and patronage. Rome at this time was the center of the Catholic world and a hub of artistic production, with institutions like the Vatican playing a key role in shaping artistic trends. Borghese himself used his wealth and influence to amass a vast art collection, shaping the cultural landscape of the city. To fully understand this sculpture, we might turn to archival records, letters, and other historical documents. These can reveal the complex social and political dynamics that shaped its creation, reminding us that art is always a product of its time.