Guercino. L’era Ludovisi a Roma

As one of the most studied and investigated periods by art historians the world over, the Roman 17th century has always been linked to complex dynastic events, most notably those of the Borghese and Barberini families and their long and famous papacies, true seasons of style in the History of Art.

The very brief, and relatively little-studied, Ludovisi papacy, set between the two better-known dynasties, carries with it elements of the Borghese season and anticipates many of the themes of the Barberini one.

C ardinal Nephew Ludovico Ludovisi built Villa Ludovisi, the residence symbol of the family, and a very valuable and rich collection of ancient, modern and contemporary art, both emblematic of the very strong personality of the Ludovisis and the bearers of numerous elements of artistic novelty: the search for and possession of the most extraordinary antiquity, the collection and recovery of the 16th century Veneto, and the attendance of a large community of artists gathered in Rome.

In those years, the young Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Guercino lived one of the most important periods of his artistic adventure and it was in Rome, thanks to the unrepeatable opportunity given to him by Pope Gregory XV, that he laid the foundations for everything that was to come later.

The rooms of the Scuderie del Quirinale host the one hundred and twenty-one works from 68 prestigious lending institutions that narrate the exhibition and its illustrious protagonists: Guercino and the Ludovisi dynasty led by Alessandro Ludovisi, Pope Gregory XV from 1621 to 1623.

The masterpieces by the painter from Cento dialogue with other masterpieces and artists on display - Guido Reni, Domenichino, Lanfranco, Annibale and Ludovico Carracci, Pietro da Cortona, Padovanino, Van Dyck, Poussin and Bernini - evoking episodes of rivalry, exchange and mutual influence. Nevertheless, constructive comparisons from which it clearly appears that Guercino's artistic vision, ignited by his refined research into colour, became the perfect balancing point for the rise of the Ludovisi family and the affirmation of their political and cultural power.

Guercino. L'era Ludovisi a Roma is realised in collaboration with the National Roman Museum, the Uffizi Galleries and the Capitoline Museums.

Sala dell'Aurora in the Casino di Villa Ludovisi

On the occasion of the exhibition, and by way of exception, you can visit some of the rooms of the Casino di Villa Ludovisi, including the one with Guercino's famous Aurora. Visits are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 November.

Booking is compulsory and is linked to the purchase of the exhibition ticket. The visit to the Casino must be chosen when purchasing the Guercino ticket as it will not be possible to do so later.

Photo: Giovanni Francesco Barbieri called Guercino, Moses, 1618-1619, Waddesdon, The Rothschild Foundation