Bernini and the Barberini

An event-book dedicated to the greatest figure of the Baroque, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and to the major exhibition in Rome at Palazzo Barberini (February 2026). This catalogue is an essential reference for all lovers of Italian art, presenting, through more than 70 masterpieces from international museums and collections, the full inventive power of Bernini-sculptor, architect, painter, and stage director of seventeenth-century Rome. The volume's strength lies in its completeness: essays by leading scholars, Andrea Bacchi, Tomaso Montanari, Karen Lloyd, Joseph Connors, Evonne Levy, and many others, illuminate not only the work of the master but also the cultural context in which his legend was forged. Topics include Urban VIII and the Barberini family, the theatre and spectacle culture of the time, bronze casting, and Bernini's artistic rivalries with Guido Reni. A rich iconographic apparatus, with detailed entries on all the works in the exhibition, makes this book not merely a catalogue but also a genuine tool for research and visual enjoyment. Elegant and authoritative, designed both for the cultivated reader and the curious enthusiast, this volume offers an immersive journey into the most extraordinary age of Italian art, bringing back to life the visionary and theatrical power of Bernini's genius. A title destined to become indispensable on the shelves of any bookstore that seeks to offer its readers a journey into the soul of the Baroque.