Reflets et citations de la culture romaine dans les commandes d’architecture des cardinaux français (1530-1560)

During the second half of his reign, Francis I decided to increase the French diplomatic presence in Rome, in order to balance the influence of Charles V. The Emperor won the battle of Pavia and his welcome in Bologna in 1531 was more triumphal than that of Francis I in 1515. From the 1530's many French Cardinals had been created and many diplomatic missions were entrusted to men of the Church. Cardinals, in particular, were charged with the most delicate or representative missions. They often were asked to reside at the Papal court to support the work of ordinary ambassadors, for to their rank and potential to interface with the whole College of Cardinals and the Roman aristocracy. More than other members of the French court, they had the chance to participate in Roman cultural life and artistic production: so they could have the role of "importers" of Italian Renaissance architecture in France. The aim of this study is to verify the correctness of this hypothesis for the architectural patronage of Cardinals created during the reign of Francis I, who stayed in Rome for long periods.