Rome has long been one of the world’s great artistic capitals. Among the leading figures of the Baroque era stands Gian Lorenzo Bernini, an artist whose masterpieces not only shaped the history of art but also transformed the very identity of the city. The exhibition “Bernini and the Barberini”, hosted at Palazzo Barberini, invites visitors into the heart of this extraordinary story.

Running from 12 February to 14 June, and curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, the exhibition explores the remarkable collaboration between Bernini and Maffeo Barberini, who ascended to the papacy in 1623 as Pope Urban VIII. Barberini was not merely a patron, but a decisive force in the artist’s rise and creative development.

Set within the historic halls of Palazzo Barberini, the exhibition leads visitors on a journey from Bernini’s early career through the years of the Barberini pontificate. Busts, engravings, paintings, and major works come together to reveal the depth of an artistic, personal, and political relationship that profoundly shaped Baroque Rome.

Bernini was far more than a sculptor: he was also an architect, painter, urban planner, stage designer, and even a playwright. Born in Naples, he moved to Rome at a young age, where his exceptional talent was soon recognized and nurtured under Urban VIII’s protection.

Timeless masterpieces such as The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Apollo and Daphne, and Aeneas and Anchises showcase his dramatic and visionary genius. His contributions to St. Peter’s Basilica, along with the iconic Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, remain enduring symbols of Rome’s grandeur.

The exhibition’s timing is particularly meaningful, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new St. Peter’s Basilica in 1626. “Bernini and the Barberini” is not only an art exhibition, but also a privileged window into Rome’s Golden Age and the birth of the Baroque.

For anyone wishing to rediscover the magnificence of an era through the eyes of its greatest interpreter, this exhibition is an unmissable highlight of Rome’s cultural season.