Angels: Messengers, Guardians, Travelers — Exhibition at the Capitoline Museums

The Capitoline Museums present an exhibition focused on angelic representations in Western art, from ancient images to nineteenth- and twentieth-century reinterpretations. The display highlights how the angelic figure evolved toward more humanized portrayals, reflecting changing symbolic and cultural meanings.

Highlights

• Pietro da Cortona, "The Guardian" (1656) — from the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini.
• Carlo Dolci, "Announcing Angel" (c.1650) — on loan from the Uffizi Galleries.
• Guercino, "Saint Matthew with the Angel" (1622) — from the Capitoline Museums collection.
• Giovanni Antonio Galli (Lo Spadarino), "Guardian Angel" (c.1620) — exceptional loan from the Fondo Edifici di Culto.
• Contemporary works from private collections, including pieces by Omar Galliani and Osvaldo Licini.

Organization and catalogue

The exhibition is curated by Massimo Rossi Ruben and Viviana Vannucci. It is promoted by the City of Rome – Department of Culture in collaboration with the Capitoline Superintendency for Cultural Heritage and supported by the European Center for Tourism and Culture. The official catalogue is published by Gangemi Editore.

Practical information

Dates: from 13 May to 1 November 2026.

Venue: ground-floor rooms of the Palazzo dei Conservatori, Capitoline Museums.
Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, 4 – 00186 Rome, Italy.

The exhibition features loans from national museums and private collections, including the Museo di Capodimonte, the Gallerie Nazionali, the Uffizi, the Museo Nazionale del Bargello and the Pinacoteca Capitolina. Check the official Capitoline Museums channels for current opening hours, ticketing and booking procedures before your visit.

Why visit

This exhibition is a rare chance to see together important works that illuminate the relationship between artistic beauty and the social and spiritual roles historically attributed to angelic imagery.