Bernini and the Barberini family - the soul of Baroque Rome

From 12 February to 14 June 2026, Palazzo Barberini in Rome will host the exhibition Bernini and the Barberinis, an important exhibition dedicated to the relationship between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Maffeo Barberini, the future Pope Urban VIII, the artist's first and most important patron. The exhibition recounts how this human, artistic and political bond contributed decisively to the birth and development of Roman Baroque.
Bernini, the undisputed star of the 17th century, was able to translate energy, movement, and theatricality into sculpture and architecture, giving life to a new language that profoundly marked the history of art. Barberini's support was fundamental to his career, accompanying him in the most important commissions that transformed the face of the city.

Curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, the exhibition is conceived as a journey into the heart of the collaboration between the artist and the powerful Barberini family. Organized to mark the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new St. Peter's Basilica, the exhibition traces the main stages of this partnership, from their initial meeting to the great projects of Urban VIII's pontificate.

The exhibition features sculptures, paintings, drawings, and models, many of which are rarely displayed together, as well as numerous international loans, including sculptural portraits of the Barberini family's ancestors. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the history and language of the Baroque.

Read more here.