The publication of the poem, together with its engravings, was commissioned by Francesco Barberini (1597-1679), who in 1623 was appointed as cardinal by his uncle, Pope Urban VIII. He was also a member of the jury that condemned Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) for his theory that the earth was circling around the sun. Actually, Francesco Barberini was opposed to Galileo's condemnation.
British Museum online catalogue (retrieved 4 September 2016).
WV
Cardinal Francesco Barberini (1597-1679), in an engraving dated 1624.