Bernini and the Roman Baroque: Masterpieces from Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia offers a mesmerizing perspective on the interplay of art, religion, nature, power, and mythology in the turbulent 17th century. With its abundance of detail, a sense of surprise, drama, contrast, grandeur, and deep color, the artistic style became a cultural and worldwide phenomenon.
With 55 works, “Masterpieces” comprehensively maps a rich spectrum of styles that characterize the baroque aesthetic. History paintings, portraiture, landscapes, and preparatory sketches used for large decorative frescoes consolidated Baroque’s ultimate goal of elevating the viewer’s mind and soul, especially illustrating the moral and spiritual aspirations of the Catholic Church in its artistic heyday.
Curated as a part of a season-long comparison of varying movements and artist interpretation, the exhibition also highlights Auburn’s connection to the Chigi Palace through the College of Human Sciences Joseph S. Bruno Study Abroad in Italy and a regional link to Marion Berry of Rome, Georgia, who married the Chigi prince.
