I Farnese in 16th Century Rome: Origins and Legacy of a Collection at Capitoline Museums
From February 11th until May 18th, 2025, Villa Caffarelli at the Capitoline Museums, in Rome, Italy, will host the grand exhibition "I Farnese in 16th Century Rome: Origins and Legacy of a Collection" a highlight of Rome's Jubilee Year. Curated by Claudio Parisi Presicce and Chiara Rabbi Bernard, the exhibition brings together 140 masterpieces from the renowned Farnese Collection, considered one of the most significant of the Renaissance. The collection features ancient sculptures, bronzes, paintings, drawings, manuscripts, gems, and coins.
LEFT: Titian Vecellio (Pieve di Cadore, 1488/1490 - Venice, 1576), Portrait of Paul III with Camauro, around 1545-1546, Oil on canvas, 113.7 x 88.8 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte; RIGHT: Raphael and Assistants (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520), Madonna of Divine Love, 1516-1518, Oil on panel, 140 x 109 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
The Magnificence of the Farnese Collection
The Farnese Collection, initiated by Alessandro Farnese — who ascended to the papacy as “Pope Paul III in 1534” — was later enriched by his nephews, Cardinals Alessandro and Odoardo. This collection not only stood out for its wealth of artworks and archaeological artifacts but also played a strategic role in consolidating the prestige of the Farnese family in Rome. By gathering an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings, and manuscripts, the Farnese promoted a new vision of Rome as a cultural and artistic center, evoking the grandeur of the imperial era.
LEFT: Jacopo Carucci, known as Pontormo (Pontorme, 1494 - Florence, 1557), Venus and Cupid 1532-1533, Oil on panel, 128 x 194 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze; RIGHT:Ganymede, 2nd century AD, Marble, 110 x 115 x 65 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – National Archaeological Museum of Naples – Photo by Luigi Spina
The exhibition explores this artistic splendor by bringing together pieces from prestigious national and international institutions. Notable contributions come from Naples, which preserves numerous works from the Farnese Collection at the National Archaeological Museum, the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, and the Vittorio Emanuele III National Library. Other significant collaborations include the Gallerie Nazionali d’Arte Antica and the Galleria Borghese in Rome, the Gallerie degli Uffizi and the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, the Galleria Nazionale di Parma - Palazzo della Pilotta, as well as international institutions such as the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Morgan Library in New York.
Transforming Rome: The Farnese Legacy
The exhibition highlights how the Farnese family shaped the urban and cultural landscape of Rome. Motivated by a deep passion for antiquity, “Pope Paul III” led a remarkable urban transformation of the city following the tragic “Sack of Rome in 1527”. He was the visionary behind the grand renovation of the “Piazza del Campidoglio”, designed by Michelangelo, where the iconic bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius was placed in 1538.
LEFT: Jacopino del Conte (Florence, circa 1510 - Rome, 1598), Portrait of Pope Paul III, 16th century, Oil on panel, 66.5 x 50.5 cm, Ajaccio, Palais Fesch, Musée des Beaux-Arts - © RMN-Gérard Blot; RIGHT: Piero di Giovanni Bonaccorsi, known as Perin del Vaga (Florence, 1501 - Rome, 1547), Portrait of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, Oil on panel, 51 x 48 cm, National Galleries of Ancient Art, Rome (MiC) - Bibliotheca Hertziana, Max Planck Institute for Art History / Enrico Fontolan
The exhibition spans 12 rooms, guiding visitors through an immersive journey into the history of the Farnese family and their deep connection with the city of Rome and their iconic collection. Among the highlights are masterpieces that once adorned the luxurious Palazzo Farnese, such as the Group of Pan and Daphni (mid-2nd century AD), Ganymede with the Eagle, and exceptional Renaissance works, including the Madonna of Divine Love by Raphael and the Portrait of Pope Paul III with camauro, painted by Titian.
Fulvio Orsini: The Guardian of the Farnese Legacy
The exhibition dedicates a special section to Fulvio Orsini, a humanist scholar and antiquarian who played a crucial role in the preservation and enhancement of the Farnese Collection. Regarded as the "Deus ex machina" of the collection, Orsini served as librarian, antiquarian, and scholarly curator, significantly contributing to the growth of the Farnese Library, which became an important center for the study of ancient manuscripts. The exhibition showcases gems from his personal collection, as well as the precious “Codice Capponiano” from the “Vatican Apostolic Library”, highlighting his antiquarian scholarship.
LEFT:Eros with Dolphin, Imperial Age, Marble, 175 x 60 x 75 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – National Archaeological Museum of Naples – Photo by Luigi Spina; RIGHT:Afrodite Callipigia, I secolo d.C, Marble, 175 x 75 x 60 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – National Archaeological Museum of Naples – Photo by Luigi Spina
Masterpieces of the Collection
The exhibition journey creates a dialogue between the architectural of Palazzo Farnese and the masterpieces of the collection, recreating the ambiance of the opulent rooms that once housed these works of art. Highlights include preparatory drawings for the Galleria dei Carracci, adorned with mythological themes inspired by “Ovid's Metamorphoses”, as well as iconic sculptures such as the Eros Farnese and the Satyr with Infant Bacchus, which return to Rome after being transferred to Naples in the 18th century.
The exhibition concludes in the room titled “Two Collections, One Destiny”, paying tribute to the connection between the Farnese family and Fulvio Orsini. A centerpiece is the Portrait of Giulio Clovio by El Greco, displayed alongside the Book of Hours that Clovio miniaturized for “Cardinal Alessandro Farnese”. This room symbolizes the union of the two collections and the artistic legacy they preserved.
LEFT: Raffaello Sanzio (Urbino, 1483 - Roma, 1520), Portrait of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, the future Pope Paul III, 1509-1511, Oil on panel, 139 x 91 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte; RIGHT: Giovan Battista di Jacopo di Gasparre, known as Rosso Fiorentino (Florence, 1494 - Fontainebleau, 1540), Ritratto di giovane uomo, 1529 circa, Oil on canvas, 120 x 86 cm, Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture – Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
The exhibition “Farnese in 16th Century Rome: Origins and Legacy of a Collection” offers a thoughtful exploration of Renaissance art, revealing the cultural depth and historical influence that shaped Rome during this pivotal era.
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