Berlinghiero Gessi

[1] On 13 November 1606, Gessi was elected bishop of Rimini and was consecrated 6 days later in the Sistine Chapel by Antonio Sauli, who was also an alumnus of the University of Bologna.

[2] In 1624, Francesco Maria II della Rovere's last heir died of epilepsy and the duke was forced to hand control of the Duchy of Urbino to the papacy.

The painting owned by Gessi was later bequeathed to the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome, before being purchased in 1801 by Pietro Camuccini and subsequently by Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland for his art collection at Alnwick Castle, where it is now on display.

Before Gessi's governorship there had finished, Pope Urban elevated him to cardinal on 19 January 1626 and appointed him cardinal-priest of the Basilica of Sant'Agostino the following year.

[2] In 1633, he was named prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice and he served as Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals January 1639 until his death only a few months later.