Focus on The Death of Germanicus and explain the History.
The painting was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Barberini (1597–1679), nephew of Pope Urban VIII and legate in France. The order was probably placed in October 1626, returning from a diplomatic visit to Spain. He called on Nicolas Poussin, then a young painter who had recently settled in Rome since 1624, whom he may have known thanks to the poet Giambattista Marino, perhaps through the intermediary of the banker and patron Marcello Sacchetti. Barberini had already commissioned a Capture of Jerusalem (Israel Museum) from Poussin, painted around 1625-1626 and given as a gift to Cardinal Richelieu. The painting was delivered on January 21, 1628, and a receipt signed by the painter's hand indicates that he obtained the sum of 60 crowns for this work. The painting very quickly obtained a great echo because from the following February, Poussin was chosen to paint an altarpiece in Saint Peter's Basilica, The Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus.The painting is given by Francesco to his nephew Maffeo Barberini (1631–1685), prince of Palestrina. It then remained in the collections of the Barberini Family in Rome and Florence until 1958. That year, it was acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Art with the support of the William Hood Dunwoody Fund.
Nicolas Poussin France Giambattista Marino Francesco Barberini (1597–1679) Minneapolis Institute of Art William Hood Dunwoody Minneapolis Saint Peter's Basilica Rome Francesco Barberini Barberini Family Cardinal Richelieu Pope Urban VIII