Carracci. The Herrera Chapel, Prado Museum, Madrid: 8 March-12 June 2022

This is archived material. It is for reference purposes only.

In 2022, the Prado Museum presents fragments of the Herrera Chapel that was deconsecrated in 1818. 

Carracci was one of the most prominent painters in the 17th-century and in 1602, was commissioned to paint a fresco for Spanish banker Juan Enríquez de Herrera. Herrera wanted to dedicate the fresco to Saint Didacus of Alcalá so he acquired space for a chapel in the San Giacomo degli Spagnoli church in Rome. 

All the paintings were designed by Carracci, but after he fell sick, they were actually  executed by Francesco Albani, an Italian Baroque painter who completed the fresco in 1606.

When the church was deconsecrated in 1818, the fresco was transferred onto multiple canvases. In total there are 19 pieces, of which three have ‘disappeared’. There are none on display in this exhibition. 

Included is Aparició de sant Dídac damunt el seu sepulcre (Apparition of Saint Didacus above his sepulchre), one of the many paintings depicting the miracles of Saint Didacus. The  focus on miracles was due to the gratitude that Herrera showed to Saint Didacus of Alcalá after his son recovered from serious illness. 

Another piece you can see is Apòstols al voltant del Sepulcre buit (Apostles around the Empty Sepulchre).

Exposición “Annibale Carracci. Los frescos de la capilla Herrera” San Diego de Alcalá recibiendo limosna Annibale Carracci Pintura mural trasladada a lienzo. 126 x 223,5 cm 1604-07 Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado
Exposición “Annibale Carracci. Los frescos de la capilla Herrera” San Diego de Alcalá recibiendo limosna Annibale Carracci Pintura mural trasladada a lienzo. 126 x 223,5 cm 1604-07 Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado

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