Palazzo Barberini, Rome

Palazzo Barberini, Rome

The Palazzo Barberini is an imposing 17th century Baroque building, designed partly by Bernini, commissioned by the Barberini family to celebrate and commemorate their ascension to papacy.

The Palazzo Barberini is an imposing 17^th century Baroque building, designed partly by Bernini, commissioned by the Barberini family to celebrate and commemorate their ascension to papacy. The ceiling of its central Gran Salone has a striking Trompe-l'œil fresco depicting the ‘Allegory of Divine Providence and Barberini Power’ which glorifies the papal Barberini family. A swarm of heraldic giant golden bees (symbol of the Barberinis) follow flying maidens holding the sacred papal keys and accessories, while Divine Providence is at the other end of the sky.

Today the Palace houses the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica (National Gallery of Ancient Art), with a striking collection mainly comprising Italian art from the early Renaissance to late Baroque period. The collection is divided into three chronological sections -

• The ground floor covers the early Renaissance period, with a few Pietàs by Giacomo Francia, Piero di Cosimo’s St Mary Magdalene, and Fra’ Filippo Lippi’s Madonna col Bambino (Madonna and Child) and Annunciazione e Due Devoti (Annunciation with two Kneeling Donors).
• The first floor displays the staple collection from the High Renaissance and Baroque eras, with works including Raphael’s La Fornarina (The Baker’s Daughter), Bronzino’s portrait of Stefano Colonna, Henry VIII by Hans Holbein, The Baptism of Christ and Adoration of the Shepherds by El Greco and several works by Caravaggio including San Francesco d’Assisi in Meditazione (Saint Francis in Meditation), Narciso (Narcissus) and Giuditta e Oloferne (Judith Beheading Holofernes).
• The top floor displays late Baroque era works, including Bernini’s Ritratto di Urbano VIII (Portrait of Pope Urban VIII (Maffeo Barberini)).