History
Both Bernini and Borromini had a hand
in designing the Barberini Palace, another landmark
of papal patronage, containing half the National Gallery
of Art. (The other half remains in the Corsini Palace
on the far side of the Tiber; the collection will be
united when the army officers' club vacates the ground
floor of the Barberini, a move that has been pending
for some 50 years.) The paintings range from the Middle
Ages to the 18th century, and include masterpieces by
Raphael, Caravaggio, and Pietro da Cortona, who also
painted the spectacular ceiling fresco, "The Triumph
of Divine Providence."
Newly renovated, this museum offers paintings from Italian
artists , as well as Dutch and Flemish works.
Barberini Palace is another Roman palace worth visiting
for its splendor and collection of art. In 1625 the
Barberini family purchased the Palazzo Sforza and other
properties in the area which was to be incorporated
to the Barberini palace we see today in Rome. Upon the
death of Carlo Maderno, the first architect of the project,
Gian Lorenzo Bernini succeeded as chief architect in
1629. Bernini's is the conception of the high central
"salone', which extends through two stories of
the palace. The salone culminates in the great vault
on which Piero da Cortona frescoed his Divine Providence,
a pictorial celebration of the spiritual and temporal
glories of the Barberini. Cortona also had a hand in
the building of the palace complex: the largest of his
contributions was the design of the theater wing, demolished
in 1926 with the opening of the modern Via Barberini.When
Maffeo Barberini became Pope Urban VIII in 1623 he decided
to build a grand family palazzo.Bernini was commissioned
to design the facade overlooking the garden and staircase.
Borromini was commissioned to design the spiral staircase
and windows to the top story of the palace. The most
dazzling room is the Gran Salone, with its illusionist
ceiling frescoes by Pietro Da Cortona.The Barberini
collection is mainly of Italian painting of the thirteenth
to sixteenth centuries with works by Fra Angelico, Filippo
Lippi, Lorenzo Lotto, Andrea del Sarto, Perugino, Caravaggio,
Canaletto and Raphael.Judith and Holofernes: By Caravaggio.The
painting was realized by the artist during his stay
in Rome under the patronage of Cardinal del Monte.The
strong contrast between light and shade and its tragic
realism are typical of the artist's style and provoked
great controversy.Et in Arcadia Ego: By Guercino - 1618It
is one of Guercino's famous paintings, representing
the discovery of a skull by two young shepherd boys.
The artist finds a perfect harmony between his Venetian
reminiscence and his personal sensitivity
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