From 12 February to 14 June, Rome’s National Galleries of Ancient Art will host the exhibition “Bernini and the Barberini” at Palazzo Barberini.
The exhibition is in six thematic sections
This will be an in-depth look at the relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and one of the most influential families of 17th-century Rome. It will present the public not only with a portrait of an artistic genius, but also with the historical and political context in which he lived and worked. Divided into six thematic sections, the exhibition will take visitors through Bernini's entire career, highlighting the decisive role played by the Barberini family's commissions and, in particular, his relationship with Pope Urban VIII, the artist's first and most important patron.
Works from international collections
The exhibition brings together sculptures, drawings and sketches illustrating Bernini's creative process, alongside works of great value from international collections that are rarely seen in Italy, such as “Saint Sebastian” from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, “Putto with Dragon” from the Getty Museum and “The Four Seasons” from the Aldobrandini collection. On display are drawings, engravings and preparatory models of the famous Baldacchino di San Pietro (Baldachin of St. Peter's) and the funeral monument of Urban VIII.
Bernini the painter
The exhibition also reserves a space for Bernini the painter, presenting a selection of canvases, some of which are on public display for the first time. The exhibition concludes with a comparison with other great protagonists of the 17th century, including Guido Reni, François Duquesnoy and Alessandro Algardi, offering a broader view of the European artistic landscape of the time.
His famous colonnade in St, Peter’s Square
Bernini and the Barberini coincides with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new St Peter's Basilica in 1626, one of the most significant moments in the history of Roman Baroque. This anniversary provides an opportunity to explore the figure of Bernini and to highlight a historical period that marked the history of Rome and Italy. Bernini’s colonnade and baldachin of St. Peter's Basilica, the latter created in collaboration with Francesco Borromini, and the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona are other well-known examples of his mastery as a sculptor and architect.
