Caravaggio at the Palazzo Barberini

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Palazzo Barberini

 

Like many cities in Europe, Rome has taken many of its old palaces and turned them into museums. The Palazzo Barberini is and excellent example, now using the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica (National Gallery of Antique Art).




The Palazzo Barberini was built between 1625 and 1633 by Maffeo Barberini, who had recently been anointed as Pope Urban VIII. The Barberini family were nobility and made their fortune as trade merchants. It was around this time that they created a workshop that created tapestries. The Barberini family lived in the palazzo until 1955.




The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica was founded in 1893. In 1883 Tomaso Corsini sold his palace to the Italian government, along with his entire collection of paintings. This collection formed the original gallery and was housed in the Palazzo Corsini, where it is still on the walls, the way the Corsini family had them arranged. Over the years the museum grew, and in 1953 Italy purchased the Palazzo Barberini for its expansion. The Palazzo Barberini is mostly devoted to artwork created between the middle ages and the 18th century with many wonderful works.


Allegory of Divine Providence and Barberini Power by Pietro di Cortona

The Concert by Hendrick ter Brugghen



Two Putti with a Goose and a Turtle

The Three Parcae by Marco Bigio


The Metamorphosis of Picus by Benvenuto Pisi


Vision of the Blessed Amadeo Menez de Sylva by Pedro Fernandez



One of my favorite pieces is the Annunciation With Two Donors by Francisco Lippi. This painting is unique in my experience, and what makes it special is right there in the title. I have never seen an annunciation painting with witnesses in Mary’s rooms.




My other favorite is the statue of the Veiled Woman by Antonio Corradini. The fine work in the carving of they statue is amazing.




What brought me to the Palazzo Barberini was a special show - the largest collection of paintings by Caravaggio ever brought together. Caravaggio (1571-1610) was born in Milan, and moved to Rome in 1592. Over the next fourteen years, he lived in the city, and produced most of his known paintings. Caravaggio was known to have a drink excessively and to have a short temper. He would get into drunken brawls. It was rumored that he was forced to leave Milan after being involved in a murder. He was jailed for brawling in 1600, and in 1605 he was forced to flee to Genoa for three weeks after injuring someone in a fight over a model, and in 1606 he had to leave Rome for Naples and then Malta after killing someone during a duel. In Malta Caravaggio continued to paint, creating the recently restored Beheading of of Saint John, and brawling. In 1609 he returned to Naples, again under the shadow of possibly having killed someone. In 1610 Caravaggio died under circumstances that were never made clear. It is said that he suffered from fever due to several possible illnesses, but many people believe that he was murdered in revenge for the death he caused in Malta.



Caravaggio by Ottavio Leoni

The Beheading of Saint John the Baptitst


Caravaggio’s paintings are known for the use of chiaroscuro, the strong use of light and dark. He created very dark backgrounds, with the subjects placed in bright light. This technique brings a feeling of strong emotion to his work.

 


Portrait of a Knight of Malta

Saint Catherine of Alexandria

The Cardsharps

Fortuneteller

Boy Peeling Fruit

Narcissus



A short walk (700m) from the Palazzo Barberini is the Trinità deli Monti church. Built by the French monarchy in return for an attempt by Francis of Paola to heal French King Louis XI in 1502, it was consecrated in 1585.


The Assumption of Mary by Daniele da Volterra



Pieta by Achtermann




The Trinità dei Monti sits at the top of the Spanish Steps. This monument of 135 steps was built to connect the church to the Piazza di Spagna below. This is where the Spanish embassy to the Holy See was located.  



There are rules about sitting on the Spanish Steps but the Carbinieri were pretty laid back when I visited



This Restaurant sits at the top of a building next to the Spanish Steps



Nuts and Bolts


  • The Palazzo Barberini is located at Via della Quattro Fontana 13
  • The museum is open Tue - Sun 10:00 - 7:00
  • Full price tickets are €15/ EU citizens (18-25) €2/ under 18 free
  • Caravaggio Exhibit €18 including entrance to the entire museum.
Location: Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

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