Castello del Buonconsiglio monumenti e collezioni provinciali
Personaggi
Francis Alberti Poia (1610-1689; Prince-Bishop 1677-1689)
Poia carried out his studies in Germany and in Rome, where he obtained a degree in Theology. Upon his return to Trento, he was nominated vicar-general and personal advisor to Prince-Bishop Charles Emanuele Madruzzo. As vicar-general, he commissioned both the building of the altar of the Immaculate Mary (of which only two statues remain) in the chancel of the cathedral, and also a series of paintings depicting stories of Saint Vigilius, which have unfortunately disappeared.
Nominated Prince-Bishop at the age of 67, he supported many important artistic interventions: in c.1678 he commissioned the building of a chapel, now destroyed, dedicated to San Pio V in the church of San Lorenzo; in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore he affixed a pediment in stucco destined for San Clemente’s urn; in 1682 he encouraged the building of the Chapel of the Crucifix in the Cathedral, with the work of artist Giuseppe Alberti; and was lastly patron to the building of the Giunta Albertiana at Buonconsiglio Castle between 1686 to 1688, built to join Castelvecchio to Bernardo Cles’s 16th century palace.
He was not only a man of the church, but was also a man of letters, belonging to the Accademia degli Accesi (Illuminist Movement), which gained from his influence.