Antonio Barberini was patron to a number of significant musicians and composers of 17th century Rome including Marco Marazzoli who he commissioned to compose various works which praised the actions of the Barberini family. Marazzoli was appointed Antonio Barberini's "aiutante di camera" and became a tenor in the papal chapel that same year; in 1639 he was awarded the position of "musico" under Pope Urban VIII. Marazzoli composed "Le armi e gli amori" to be given at Carnival 1655, but the papal conclave of 1655 interrupted production, and it was not given until 1656, alongside "Dal male e bene" and Marazzoli's latest opera, "Vita humana" which was composed to honor the visit of Queen Christina of Sweden.