The exhibition that tells the story of one of the greatest collections of Italian Renaissance art, extended until June 8, 2025
Rome in the 16th century was a laboratory of power and beauty. Among the families that most influenced the artistic destiny of the city, the Farnese stand out for their vision and ambition. With the exhibition “The Farnese in 16th Century Rome. Origins and Fortune of a Collection”, the Capitoline Museums celebrate the birth of a legendary collection, an expression of the patronage of one of the most influential dynasties of Renaissance Italy.
The exhibition path, divided into several thematic sections, retraces the stages of the Farnese collection: from its origins linked to the election of Paul III in 1534, to the dispersion of the collection among Rome, Naples, and Europe.
In the first room, the historical context and the political role of the family are reconstructed through portraits, documents, and emblematic works. Following this, a section dedicated to Palazzo Farnese – now the seat of the French embassy – showcases its architectural and decorative layout, designed as a visual manifesto of family power.
Significant space is dedicated to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese the Younger, a great collector and patron, who enriched the collection with works by Carracci, Titian, Sebastiano del Piombo, Michelangelo, and other greats of the time. Through museum loans and reconstructions, visitors enter the heart of Renaissance collecting, where art, politics, and taste engage in a seamless dialogue.
The final section illustrates the “fortune” of the collection, following the events that led to its fragmentation and dissemination in major European museums. An epilogue that shows how the Farnese legacy has marked the history of Western collecting.
A must-see for those who love art history, the Renaissance, and collecting, the exhibition “The Farnese in 16th Century Rome” is an opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes of one of the most influential collections ever. A journey that unites the splendor of the ancient with the modern vision of cultural power.
Useful information for the visit
📍 Where: Capitoline Museums, Piazza del Campidoglio 1, Rome
📅 When: until JUNE 8, 2025 EXTENDED
🕒 Hours: every day from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM (last entry one hour before)
🎟️ Tickets: included in the ticket for the Capitoline Museums, advance booking recommended
🔗 Official website: museicapitolini.org
