Albani,

Albani, a rich and celebrated Roman family, many members of which, from the accession of Giovanni Francesco Albani as Clemens XI. to the papal throne in 1700, filled high positions in the church. It died out in 1852. It was Cardinal Alessandro Albani (born 1692—died 1779) who formed the famous collection of objects of art in the Villa Albani, outside the Porta Salaria at Rome. It is still a rich collection, although part of it was carried off by the French. The pieces taken away were restored in 1815; but the then possessor being unable to pay for their removal to Rome, sold them to the king of Bavaria.