There are plenty of things to see and do in Rome, in fact, the list is truly endless. However, people often focus on the monumental ruins and architectural feats of the city and immense works of art such as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, when there are actually plenty of other excellent cultural gems to be seen. These are housed in the city's museums and, if you are an art lover, in particular, the Galleria Borghese is the Roman museum for you.
An architectural gem in its own right, the Galleria Borghese, is an art gallery housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana. Built by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, it was a villa suburbana, a party villa at the edge of Rome, for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621). Borghese was a passionate patron of the arts and collector and was even involved in the designing of the villa. The Galleria Borghese today is a public art gallery that houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities and, in particular, is home to a rich collection of works by Caravaggio and Bernini. Other important artists represented by the collection include Titian, Raphael and Rubens, among others.
An architectural gem in its own right, the Galleria Borghese, is an art gallery housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana. Built by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, it was a villa suburbana, a party villa at the edge of Rome, for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621). Borghese was a passionate patron of the arts and collector and was even involved in the designing of the villa. The Galleria Borghese today is a public art gallery that houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities and, in particular, is home to a rich collection of works by Caravaggio and Bernini. Other important artists represented by the collection include Titian, Raphael and Rubens, among others.
If you have found a vacation rental in Rome and love art, the gallery is a must and these are some of its highlights.
1. Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Caravaggio, c.1593
Troubled, gifted and dramatic, Caravaggio is as fascinating as his work. However, setting aside the soap opera that was his life, his art does, indeed, speak for itself. He was famous in his own lifetime and is now remembered as one of the greatest artists of his age and for good reason. His control of light and shade and dramatic, striking works continue to capture attention, hearts and imaginations. This piece dates to when Caravaggio was newly arrived in Rome from his hometown of Milan. The model was his friend, the Sicilian painter Mario Minniti, who was around 16 years old at the time. A kind of genre painting, it displays Caravaggio's ability to paint everything from flesh and hair to fabric and fruit. As such, it is a clever piece in displaying his many skills to a new potential clientele. The image is also rather sensual from the light to the food and, particularly, the figure in the image. It is such images of pouty-lipped male youths that have added to the mystery surrounding Caravaggio's life and his romantic preferences, in particular.
1. Boy with a Basket of Fruit, Caravaggio, c.1593
Troubled, gifted and dramatic, Caravaggio is as fascinating as his work. However, setting aside the soap opera that was his life, his art does, indeed, speak for itself. He was famous in his own lifetime and is now remembered as one of the greatest artists of his age and for good reason. His control of light and shade and dramatic, striking works continue to capture attention, hearts and imaginations. This piece dates to when Caravaggio was newly arrived in Rome from his hometown of Milan. The model was his friend, the Sicilian painter Mario Minniti, who was around 16 years old at the time. A kind of genre painting, it displays Caravaggio's ability to paint everything from flesh and hair to fabric and fruit. As such, it is a clever piece in displaying his many skills to a new potential clientele. The image is also rather sensual from the light to the food and, particularly, the figure in the image. It is such images of pouty-lipped male youths that have added to the mystery surrounding Caravaggio's life and his romantic preferences, in particular.
2. Saint Jerome Writing, Caravaggio, c. 1605-1606
This work comes from over a decade later and depicts Saint Jerome, a Doctor of the Church in Roman Catholicism. A popular subject at the time, it is actually only one of several paintings of the figure that Caravaggio produced in his lifetime. Here, he is shown, reading intently, with a quill resting in an outstretched arm and a skull resting upon the pile of books before him. It has been suggested that he is depicted in the act of translating the Vulgate and the aging saint is, therefore, shown at his life's work as an important Christian scholar. His wizened state and the skull serve as a reminder of mortality, in spite of the immortality he achieved through his work.
Beautifully balanced, lit impeccably and rich and luxurious, it is a fantastic example of what set Caravaggio apart from his peers and is just one of the many must-see works in the gallery. Read on to the following posts for more of our picks among the collection.
This work comes from over a decade later and depicts Saint Jerome, a Doctor of the Church in Roman Catholicism. A popular subject at the time, it is actually only one of several paintings of the figure that Caravaggio produced in his lifetime. Here, he is shown, reading intently, with a quill resting in an outstretched arm and a skull resting upon the pile of books before him. It has been suggested that he is depicted in the act of translating the Vulgate and the aging saint is, therefore, shown at his life's work as an important Christian scholar. His wizened state and the skull serve as a reminder of mortality, in spite of the immortality he achieved through his work.
Beautifully balanced, lit impeccably and rich and luxurious, it is a fantastic example of what set Caravaggio apart from his peers and is just one of the many must-see works in the gallery. Read on to the following posts for more of our picks among the collection.