From Caravaggio to Bernini 17th century masterpieces
From Caravaggio to Bernini is an exhibition that presents the 17th century Italian masterpieces in the royal collections of Spain. An exhibition dedicated to the cultural relations between Spain and Italy now together in the Escuderías del Quirinale, a unique exhibition from April 14 to July 30 in Rome.
Sixty works of art came to Rome from the famous royal palaces of Madrid and other royal sites such as El Escorial, El Pardo, which between 1940 and 1975 were also the official residence of Francisco Franco, and the Royal Palace of the Granja de San Ildefonso, known as the “little Versailles”. Through this extraordinary selection of paintings and sculptures, the exhibition From Caravaggio to Bernini reflects the political relations and cultural strategies established between the Spanish court and the Italian states of the seventeenth century.
The relationship between Italy and Spain was born during the Spanish domination in different areas of the Italian peninsula since the Peace of Cateau Cambrésis in 1559. During this period, the two cultures, the Iberian and the Italian, were influenced by each other. The Italian baroque was much appreciated by the vice kings, princes, ambassadors and courtiers, who bought or commissioned the artworks to send them to the kings of Spain in exchange of support and favors. These works were part of the contributions for the birth of the Royal Museum in 1819 and the Museum of the Prado in 1821. Other works have remained in the royal residences, first as part of the “Heritage of the Crown of Spain”, and then in 1940 as “National Patrimony”.
The exhibition From Caravaggio to Bernini presents well-known pieces as well as works preserved in places not open to the public until last year, when they were exhibited in the palace of Madrid as a preamble to the Rome´s one.
The Escuderías del Quirinale opens its doors with this exhibition where the works of art presented have been selected based on their exceptional artistic and historical value. With Rome Museum you can discover the great artistic and cultural heritage of Italy. For more information or guided tours of Rome, click here or follow us on Facebook.
