The exhibition starting from its title, has two main protagonists: Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino and the Ludovisi’s dynasty lead by Alessandro Ludovisi, from 1621 to 1623 Papa Gregorio XV.
The exhibition route unfolds not only around the figure of Guercino but also digs into the brief yet intense Ludovisi papacy in Rome. During those years, the young Guercino experienced one of the most important periods of his artistic journey, and everything that followed would find its root in this Roman past and in the unique opportunity offered by Pope Gregory XV.
The Roman 1600s, one the most studied and explored period by art historians worldwide, has always been linked to the complex dynastic events, such as the ones of the Borghese and the Barberini families. Their Papacies were long and renowned, going down in history as true eras of style in the History of Art. The very brief and relatively understudied, Ludovisi papacy, nestled between the two dynasties, carries elements of the Borghese era and anticipates many themes of the Barberini one. During those years, the cardinal-nephew, Luodovico Ludovisi, like Scipione Borghese before him and the Barberini afterward, built a villa symbolizing the dynasty – Villa Ludovisi – and an exquisite and rich collection of ancient, modern (from the 1500s) and contemporary art. The Ludovisi, a dynasty with a strong personality, brought numerous elements of artistic innovation: The search for and possession of the most extraordinary antiquities, the collection of revival of Venetian art from the 1500s, and the gathering of a large community of artists in Rome.
The exhibition, therefore, has at its center Guercino, the favorite artist of Pope Gregorio XV, and develops its themes though dialogues between masterpieces and artists, evoking episodes of rivalry, exchange, and mutual influence. In our halls, alongside Guercino, are displayed among others works of Guido Reni, Domenichino, Lanfranco, Annibale and Ludovico Carracci, Pietro da Cortona, Van Dyck, Poussin and Bernini. The comparisons presented in the exhibition will make it clear how Guercino’s artistic vision, ignited by a refined exploration of color, become the perfect balance point for the rise of the Ludovisi family and the affirmation of their political and cultural power.
Created in collaboration with the National Roman Museum, the Uffizi Galleries and the Capitoline Museums, the exhibition features 121 works from 68 prestigious lending institutions.
Hall of Aurora of Casino Villa Ludovisi
For the exhibition it will be extraordinarily possible to visit some rooms of the Casino of Villa Ludovisi, including the one with the famous Aurora by Guercino.
These visits are scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays, starting November 9th. Reservation is mandatory and is linked to the purchase of the exhibition ticket. We strongly recommend selecting the visit to the Casino when purchasing the exhibition ticket, as it will not be possible to do so afterward.
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