Palazzo Barberini
Palazzo Barberini’s history as a publicly accessible national museum began in 1953. It became the second home of the National Gallery of Antique Art, complementing Palazzo Corsini, which had housed the gallery since its inception in 1895.
Over time, the collection at Palazzo Corsini grew significantly through acquisitions and donations. Notable additions included the Torlonia family and Monte di Pietà collections (1892), the Henriette Hertz bequest (1915), and the Chigi family collection (1918). This expansion necessitated a larger space, leading to the selection of Palazzo Barberini.
In contrast to the art at Galleria Corsini, the Barberini family’s original collection had largely been dispersed by the 18th century due to internal family disputes. A royal decree in 1934 allowed the family to sell a substantial portion of their collection anche all'estero. In exchange for permitting this sale, the state acquired a select number of paintings di Palazzo Barberini, identifiable by an “F” followed by inventory numbers (e.g., La Fornarina, designated F1).
While Galleria Corsini’s collection maintains its 18th-century arrangement, the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica di Palazzo Barberini’s display showcases the evolution of major Italian painting schools from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Notable artworks include the Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini. Unlike the historically fixed display at the Galleria Corsini, Palazzo Barberini’s presentation is more organizzato, allowing for new acquisitions and evolving curatorial approaches.
The 16th and 17th centuries are particularly well-represented at Palazzo Barberini. Highlights include works by Raphael, Piero di Cosimo, Bronzino, Hans Holbein, Lorenzo Lotto, Tintoretto, and, of course, Caravaggio and his school. The 17th-century collection boasts exceptional pieces by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Guido Reni, Guercino, Nicolas Poussin, and Pietro da Cortona.
The 18th-century collection features significant works by artists such as Maratti, Batoni, Canaletto, Subleyras, Mengs, and van Wittel. It also includes paintings donated by the Duke of Cervinara, featuring exquisite works by Fragonard and Boucher, and the Lemme donation, which contains rare sketches by Corvi and Ghezzi.
