Virtue and Grace: Women in Baroque Painting at Galleria BPER, Modena

The exhibition

From 3 April to 28 June 2026, Galleria BPER in Modena is presenting "Virtue and Grace: Women in Baroque Painting", an exhibition examining the prominence of female subjects in seventeenth-century art.

Themes and highlights

The exhibition traces thematic strands across Baroque painting, showcasing multiple female representations: saints, virgins, martyrs, biblical heroines, pagan goddesses, seductresses and allegorical figures. These subjects reflect spiritual tensions, moral conflicts and passions of the Counter-Reformation era, where female imagery often served both devotional and dramatic purposes.

Curatorship and origins of the works

Curated by Lucia Peruzzi, the show gathers paintings from the Gruppo BPER collection alongside loans from museums and private collections. The project is part of Galleria BPER's ongoing programme to make its holdings accessible and relevant through focused exhibitions and public outreach.

Practical information

• Dates: 3 April - 28 June 2026
• Venue: Galleria BPER, Modena
• Tickets and opening times: check the official Galleria BPER website for the latest information on hours, ticketing and guided tours
• Recommended for: Baroque art enthusiasts, art history students, visitors interested in female iconography in historical painting

The exhibition provides a clear opportunity to explore how female figures functioned as emblematic and narrative centres in Baroque visual culture, offering insights into the era's religious and social imagination.