First created 18 Aug 2011. Version 1.0 - 28 Aug 2011. Jerry Tse. London. Galleria BorgheseAll rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use. Rome

Villa Borghese ParkThe Galleria Borghese is situated in a park about 2 km from the centre of the city, Rome.

The gallery is not big but housed in an opulent palaces. It is the most exclusive gallery in Rome. To see the collection, visitors have to make a reservation before hand, in one of the 2-hour slots offered by the gallery. The galleryThe main entrance

The building was built for as the personal home of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, between 1613 and 1615. Scipione Borghese was also the nephew of the pope Paul V. He was also a patron of Bernini. The gallery underwent an extensive 14 years restoration in 1983 and reopened in 1997. The BuildingCardinal Scipione BorghesePope Paul V (1605-21)The Emperor Room

The building was built as a showpiece gallery of the cardinal. The gallery is known for its collection of Bernini, Raphael and Caravaggio masterpieces. The BuildingThe Egyptian Room

Ancient Greek SculptureArtemis. 4C BC. OriginalPeplofora. Early 5C BC. Possibly Greek Original

Ancient Greek SculptureThe Sleeping Hermaphrodite was a 1C Roman copy of the 150 BC original sculpture by Polycles. The first Hermaphrodite sculpture belonged to the gallery was sold to the Louvre. This current Hermaphrodite was found in 1781 and reworked by Pacetti.The Sleeping Hermaphrodite, original Greek, 150 BC.

Dancing Satyr, original Greek, 4C BC.Hercules, original Greek, 4C BC.Ancient Greek Sculpture

In 1807, many pieces of art works were sold to Napoleon and they are now exhibit as the Borghese collection in the Louvre, Paris. Ancient Roman SculptureSatyr on a Dolphin, original Greek, 1C BC.Iris (Egyptian godess), Roman 2C.

Raffaello woman with UnicornWoman with a Unicorn. 1505-06. Sanzio Raffaello.Raphael probably did not finish the painting. Another artist completed the portrait by changing its pose and the size of the sleeves. He also added a small dog and the windowsill. Soon after, the dog was changed into a unicorn.In 17C the woman was changed into St Catherine with addition of her wheel. In the 1935 restoration the 17C changes were removed .

Raffaello Deposition of ChristThe Deposition of Christ. 1507. Sanzio Raffaello.The painting was cleaned in 2005 and revealed the magnificent vivid colours.The painting was painted by Raphael before he moved to Rome. It was originally placed in the church of S Francesco al Prato in Perugia.

Titian Sacred and Profane Love.Sacred and Profane Love. Titan. 1514.The nude woman was the goddess of Venus (sacred love), with her sacred flame in hand. The clothed woman (profane love) was a young widow Laura Bagarotto, dressed as a bride to be of Niccolo Aureli, who commissioned the painting. Venus with the help of Cupid who was stirring a pool of water in a sarcophagus, to assist Laura Baggrotto for the coming marriage.

Titian - Venus Blindfolding CupidVenus Blindfolding Cupid. c1565. Titian. This was painted some 50 years after the previous painting, in his 70s, showing his changing style.

Cranach - Venus and Two CupidVenus and Two Cupids. c1520. Brescianino.

Cranach - Venus and Cupid with a HoneycombVenus and Cupid with a Honeycomb. c1531. Cranach. An unusual painting in the collection as Cranach was a friend of Martin Luther.

Dosso Dossi Melissa or CirceThe painting refers to a romantic epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto. It told the story of an enchantress, Circe, who imprisoned her lovers within trees (see miniscule figures of men on the tree, top left), rocks and animals. The lady who sat in a magic circle was probably Melissa, who liberated the victims from the spell. The empty armour was a reference to the trapped knight of Astolpho.Melissa or Circe, c1530. by D. Dossi.Note the fantasy and opulent use of colours in the painting and fine landscape in the background.

Correggio - DanaeDanae. 1531-32. Correggio. He was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sensuous works of the 16C.

Lotto - Portrait of a ManPortrait of a Man. 1535. Lotto. Born in Venice, his work is always crisp and clear. His works show the influence of the Venetian painters and the influence of German painters, in his landscape.

Caravaggio Il Bacchino MalatoAeneas Flight from Troy. 1598. Barocci. Bernini must had seen this before he worked on the Aeneas and Anchises sculpture.

Caravaggio Il Bacchino MalatoSelf-Portrait as the Sick Bacchus. c1593. CaravaggioCaravaggioCaravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi is the most important Baroque painter. His revolutionary technique used dramatic dark background, selective illuminations and strong lighting contrasts. Many painters were influenced by his styles, including Artemisia Gentileschi, Ribera, Honthorst, Georges de La Tour, Rembrandt and Velazquez.

Caravaggio Boy with Basket of FruitBoy with a Basket of Fruit. c1594. Caravaggio.Caravaggios style is described as chiaroscuro. The fruits in his paintings were often over-ripe and starting to decay. The leaves were wilting and colours were fading.

Caravaggio Boy with Basket of Fruit

Caravaggio Saint JeromeSt Jerome. 1605-06. Caravaggio. This was painted at the height of his career. Note the light streams off the bald head of the saint.

Caravaggio Madonna of the PalafrenieriMadonna of the Palafrenieri. 1605-06. Caravaggio.It is a very unusual painting of the Madonna and child. It was commissioned as an altarpiece in the St Peter Basilica.The painting shows the Virgin, with the help of her son, trampled on a snake, the source of the original sin. This is an allegory of the Catholics church (represented by the Virgin) crashing the opposition, on the dispute between the Catholics and the Protestants on the original sin. St Anne (on the right), the mother of the Virgin was given the rough treatment by Caravaggio.

Caravaggio David with the Head of GoliathDavid with the Head of Goliath. 1609-10. Caravaggio.Self-portrait, the head of Caravaggio, who was wanted by the police for murder. Caravaggio is saying here is my head.

St John the Baptist. 1609-10. Caravaggio.Caravaggio David with the Head of GoliathCaravaggio painted St John the Baptist in his youth. The saint grew up in the wilderness, that strengthened his spirit (St Luke). The painting illustrated Caravaggios approach to saints and apostles. He saw these people as ordinary men and women rather than sanitised version of people in robes or spiritual colossus.

Domenichino The Hunt of DianaThe Hunt of Diana. 1616. Domenichino. The painting was forcefully bought by the Scipione Borghese from the rebellious artist Domenichino. It depicts a an archery contest, in a festive atmosphere amongst Dianas nymphs. The exquisite colour was part of the Veneto school s style.

Domenichino The Hunt of DianaSybil. c1616. Domenichino.A colourful and a youthful Persian Sybil, with a viola and a music book. In antiquity sybils sang their prophecies, accompanied with music. Domenichino was also an expert in music.

Bernini c1623Bernini c1630-35BerniniBerniniIt is impossible for any tourist to visit Rome without coming across art works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. He was a very successful artist in the early 17C. He was the leading sculptor, a painter, play write, a prominent architect and a stage designer. Several of his masterpieces are on display in the gallery. Below are some of his works in Rome.

Bernini Aeneas and AnchisesAeneas fleeing from the burning city of Troy carrying his elderly father, while his son carries the sacred fire. Aeneas and Anchises. 1618-1620.

Bernini Aeneas and AnchisesMany scholars saw the influence of Berninis father on the sculpture. Some even suggested it was his fathers work.

Bernini Rape of ProserpineProserpine was carried by Pluto into the underworld. Rape of Proserpine. 1621-22.

Bernini Rape of ProserpineMarble softened in the hand of Bernini.

Bernini Rape of Proserpine

Bernini Apollo and DaphneLife-size marble sculpture (1622-26) by Bernini. Apollo insulted Cupid, who shot him with the gold arrow of love. Knowing Apollo was in love with Daphne, Cupid shot her with the lead arrow of hate. The sculpture showed the moment when Apollo touched her. Sensing Apollos touch and the danger she turned herself into a tree to escape from Apollo.

The Apollo and Daphne was one of the four sculptures commissioned by Cardinal Borghese.Bernini Apollo and Daphne

Bernini Apollo and DaphneDaphnes foot is turning into roots.

Bernini DavidBerninis David is very dynamic and compared well with previous well-known examples of sculpture of David.David. 1623-24. Life-size marble.

Bernini DavidNote the biting lips, the hatred and other emotions on His face.

Bernini DavidBernini was very skilful in conveying movements in his David sculpture. Note the tension on his leg.

Madonna and Child. c1650. Sassoferrato.Canova - Pauline

Pauline was Napoleons sister, who married one of the Borghese Princes. Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, 1805-1808. Antonio Canova.Canova - Pauline

By portrait Pauline in nude with an apple in her hand, Canova elevated her to be a goddess. The apple is a reference to the Judgement of Paris, about beauty. Canova - Pauline

Galleria BorgheseIn 1605, two months after his ascent to the papal throne, Paul V appointed his nephew Scipione Cardinal. Shortly after he gave him the vineyard outside Porta Pinciana, where Scipione fulfilled his artistic dream by building a villa.Scipione Borghese was an early patron of Bernini and an enthusiastic collector of works by Caravaggio. As a result, the gallery has a very large collection of Bernini and Caravaggios masterpieces. The gallery was re-opened in 1997, after a 14 years restoration.

Music Roxanes Veil performed by Vanessa Mae and composed by Vangelis.All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal use. The End

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