Gli Spinola conti di Tassarolo: committenza e collezionismo tra XVI e XIX secolo

The Spinolas from Tassarolo belong to one of the most ancient aristocratic Genoese families and constitute a branch settled in Southern Piedmont. Deeply linked to the Empire, during the sixteenth century they distinguished themselves for a high number of artistic commissions – almost never seen – with the decoration of their castle. The pictorial cycle devoted to Ulysses, attributed to Luca Cambiaso and his workshop, dominates the vaults of the castle’s hall and celebrates the members of the family, according to the proposed iconological reading. In the following century, the Spinolas became fervent art collectors. Through a wise marriage policy and by weaving networks with the most up-to-date collectors of the time, they formed two conspicuous galleries which unfortunately went lost at the death of the founders. During the Eighteenth century, their interest in art seemed to fade but at the end of the century, thanks to a series of lucky circumstances, the Spinolas became owners of some of the most renown Genoese palaces. Simultaneously, Massimiliano Spinola, an entomologist, developed a passion for ancient paintings. This research is the result of an accurate archival survey, carried out first in the family’s private archive with a particular attention to the genealogical data as well as to the critical history and the relevant bibliography.