The Altieri were one of the prominent families in Rome claiming descendancy from Roman nobility, and included Pope Clement X (reigned 1670-1676).

When Giambattista Altieri was elevated to Cardinal by Pope Urban VIII, he decided his existing house was not impressive enough; not befitting his new title so in 1650 he commissioned Giovan Antonio de' Rossi to begin renovations at the site.

Cardinal Camillo Massimo recommended Carlo Maratta as the artist, and Giovanni Bellori helped with the iconography.

Clemency (punning with pope's name) is surrounded by Public Happiness and other cardinal virtues.

The building is now occupied by a bank, though the interiors still possess major works of art and decoration, including paintings by Luca Giordano, Bernardo Strozzi, Pieter Mulier the younger, Domenico Maria Canuti, Lionello Spada, Fabrizio Chiari, Felice Giani, Vincenzo Camuccini, Francesco Zuccarelli, Francesco Manno and Giuseppe Bonito.