Galleria Borghese

This walk is an in-depth examination of the Galleria Borghese taken in the company of an art historian who can unfold for you the layers of meaning—social, political, and artistic—of one of the greatest private art collections in the world. Commissions and acquisitions of pieces by the likes of Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael and Bernini made the Borghese the premier collectors of their day and their former suburban palace turned private museum is now one of the most important and certainly one of the most elegant museums in Rome.

Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew to Pope Paul V, was the mastermind behind the collection; his personal relationships with acclaimed artists and his impressive purchases made what the collection is today. His impeccable taste and trained eye was virtually unprecedented and set an incredibly high standard for any subsequent private collection that followed.

The present-day museum, handed over to the Italian State in 1902, is spread out over two floors. Our visit will spend equal time with both the sculpture on the ground floor and the paintings of the upper floor. We will also contemplate the architecture of the building and its famed grounds and gardens.

Over the course of the two hour visit (unfortunately, the maximum amount of time allowed for visits), the group will get a better understanding of not only the art the Galleria contains but the intricacies and politics of art collecting during the Baroque period.

Note: Context will take care of the necessary reservation in advance. The price of this walk does not include the price of the entrance ticket (about 9,50 euro) which is to be paid in cash upon entrance.

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