Albani, Alessandro

Albani, Alessandro an Italian cardinal, was born at Urbino, Oct. 15, 1692; and was promoted to the rank of cardinal by pope Innocent XIII. He had great taste and, knowledge of antiquities, and became a munificent patron of learning. He wrote some historical and literary works, which are held in much esteem. In 1762 his portfolio, consisting of three hundred volumes one third original drawings of the first masters, the others collections of the most capital engravings were sold to the king of Great Britain for fourteen thousand crowns. Albani died Dec. 2, 1779. See Strock, Vita Alex. Albani (Romae, 1779); Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gen., s.v.