Sacchi, Andrea (1599–1661)

Italian painter and mosaicist. He represents the more classic aspect of the baroque style, based on the art of Raphael Sanzio, both in his own art and in his teaching. Typical works are The Vision of St Romuald and Miracle of St Gregory (the latter in mosaic) in the Vatican.

Sacchi became the leading exponent of classicism in painting of the mid-17th century in Rome. His patrons in Rome were the Barberini family, and one of his principal works for them was the ceiling fresco Divine Wisdom about 1629–33 in the Barberini Palace.

Sacchi was born in Nettuno near Rome. He was a pupil of Francesco Albani and the Carracci.

Sacchi upheld classical theories against the baroque ideas of Pietro da Cortona in an important controversy (which Sacchi and his followers won) in the Academy of St Luke which centred on whether history paintings should contain few figures (Sacchi) or many (Cortona). Sacchi's Divine Wisdom and Cortona's Divine Providence are both in the Barberini Palace, which makes possible close comparison of the practical application of the theories expounded by the two artists. Sacchi's painting is generally considered the less successful, for he was happier working on a smaller scale.

Sacchi's pupil Carlo Maratta continued the classical tradition.