Francesco Satolli was born near Perugia on July 21, 1839. He was educated at the seminary of Perugia, ordained a priest in 1862, and after receiving the doctorate at the Roman Sapienza University was appointed in 1864 professor in the seminary of Perugia. He was called to Rome by Pope Leo XIII in 1880, and was appointed professor of dogmatic theology at the College of Propaganda Fide. In 1882 he was appointed professor at the Roman seminary.
Satolli’s portrait is visible on an easel to the left in this photograph of Muller-Ury’s studio at the Sherwood.
Satolli came to the United States in 1889, was present at the centenary of the hierarchy celebrated in Baltimore and delivered an address at the inauguration of the Catholic University of America in November. On his second visit, he attended on 16 November 1892 a meeting of the archbishops held in New York City and formulated in fourteen propositions the solution of certain school problems which had been for some time under discussion. He then took up his residence at the Catholic University of America, where he gave a course of lectures on the philosophy of St. Thomas. On 24 January 1893, the Apostolic delegation in the United States was established at Washington, D.C. and Satolli was appointed first delegate. It was around this time that he sat to Muller-Ury. He was created a Cardinal on 29 November 1895. He returned to Rome in October 1896 and died there on January 8, 1910.
Satolli published a book called Loyalty to Church and State in 1895.
A head study of Satolli was mentioned in American Art News, Vol. 3. No. 63, New York, January 21st, 1905, p. 2, and this may have been for this three quarter portrait or might actually be referring to the second smaller portrait.
