Pietro Bernini e Giovanni Caccini per le tombe Angioine nel Duomo di Napoli

In the last years of the sixteenth century, the Viceroy of Naples, Enrique de Guzman, Count of Olivares, encouraged the rearrangement in the counterfacade of the Cathedral of Naples of the tombs of the Angevin Kings Carlo I, Carlo Martello, and Clemenza of Austria, whose bodies were awaiting a proper burial after being removed from the apse. Domenico Fontana designed a monumental wall structure in colored marble, with a large memorial plaque and three sarcophagi, on which (at a considerable height) stood three massive white marble statues, depicting the sovereigns. The work was completed in 1602, and has not suffered considerable damage over time. Although many literary sources, including Fontana himself, mention the monument, the sculptures have not received much attention. Thanks to a new stylistic analysis, the vibrant and innovative Carlo Martello can be attributed without hesitancy to Pietro Bernini, while the Clemenza of Austria to Giovanni Caccini, both Florentine sculptors active in Naples during those years. Due to the absence of documentation, the ascription of Carlo I is more difficult and it remains an open question; however, when examining the monument's ornate parts, the style of minor sculptors such as Tommaso Montani (a pupil of Caccini), and Francesco Cassano is clear.