Galleria Borghese:
An examination of the power of patronage
Located in the public park Villa Borghese, this historical home, turned museum, hosts one of the most important italian art collections. The Galleria contains a range of works, majority being Baroque and Renaissance art. The patronage of the Borghese family yielded massively important original Baroque masterpieces, and helped foster and shape some of the era’s greatest talents, like that of Bernini.
“Three things are needed for success in painting and sculpture: to see beauty when young and accustom oneself to it, to work hard, and to obtain good advice.”-Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Without the guidance and patronage Bernini received from a young age he might not have turned into the sculptural and …show more content…
He is commissioned to not only create a portrait of Pope Paul V, but he is also given the opportunity to create a piece for St. Peter's Basilica, a massive honor. The papal portrait is far more restrained than his typical style. This is probably because the Pope was very conventional in comparison to his nephew. This sense of assertiveness is portrayed brilliantly in the subject’s posture and facial expression. Meant to serve as both an allusion to the heresy of the protestants and a celebration of St. Anne, Madonna and Child With St.Anne, also shared the lack of theatricality normally associated with him. Yet still the painting was only displayed for two days before it was removed because it was deemed unpious, possibly due to the revealing cut of Mary’s dress. The wrinkling on her mother’s face probably didn't help, as the piece was meant to be inspirational, not nearly as realistic as Caravaggio depicted. Already a fan of his work, the Cardinal was quick to purchase the piece for his own collection, where it served as an excellent example of Caravaggio's use of tenebrism, with his modeling of St.
An examination of the power of patronage
Located in the public park Villa Borghese, this historical home, turned museum, hosts one of the most important italian art collections. The Galleria contains a range of works, majority being Baroque and Renaissance art. The patronage of the Borghese family yielded massively important original Baroque masterpieces, and helped foster and shape some of the era’s greatest talents, like that of Bernini.
“Three things are needed for success in painting and sculpture: to see beauty when young and accustom oneself to it, to work hard, and to obtain good advice.”-Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Without the guidance and patronage Bernini received from a young age he might not have turned into the sculptural and …show more content…
He is commissioned to not only create a portrait of Pope Paul V, but he is also given the opportunity to create a piece for St. Peter's Basilica, a massive honor. The papal portrait is far more restrained than his typical style. This is probably because the Pope was very conventional in comparison to his nephew. This sense of assertiveness is portrayed brilliantly in the subject’s posture and facial expression. Meant to serve as both an allusion to the heresy of the protestants and a celebration of St. Anne, Madonna and Child With St.Anne, also shared the lack of theatricality normally associated with him. Yet still the painting was only displayed for two days before it was removed because it was deemed unpious, possibly due to the revealing cut of Mary’s dress. The wrinkling on her mother’s face probably didn't help, as the piece was meant to be inspirational, not nearly as realistic as Caravaggio depicted. Already a fan of his work, the Cardinal was quick to purchase the piece for his own collection, where it served as an excellent example of Caravaggio's use of tenebrism, with his modeling of St.