Bernini and the Barberini in Rome 2026
One of the most significant art events of 2026, Bernini and the Barberini is on view at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini from February 12 to June 14, 2026. Curated by Andrea Bacchi and Maurizia Cicconi, the exhibition traces the extraordinary bond between Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Maffeo Barberini, his first great patron, who took the name Pope Urban VIII when elected to the papacy in 1623.
Together, Bernini and Urban VIII gave Rome its Baroque identity. Their collaboration produced some of the most celebrated works in the history of Western art, and this exhibition brings that story to life with masterpieces gathered from leading institutions across Europe and the United States.
A Partnership That Defined the Baroque
Maffeo Barberini first championed Bernini when the sculptor was barely in his twenties. Their friendship deepened over decades, combining shared intellectual interests with an ambitious artistic program that reshaped Rome's churches, palaces, and public spaces.
Urban VIII's election as pope gave Bernini extraordinary resources to work at monumental scale. The exhibition also marks the 400th anniversary of the consecration of the new St. Peter's Basilica in 1626, the event that signaled Bernini's rise as the leading artist of his generation.
Six Sections, One Remarkable Story
The exhibition unfolds across six rooms, following Bernini's creative evolution from his early years alongside his father Pietro to the full command he achieved during the Barberini pontificate.
The opening section reconstructs the moment when Maffeo Barberini first took up the young sculptor's cause, with works that show the transition from late Mannerism to a new, forceful sculptural language. A second section brings together the Barberini family portrait gallery, with busts carved by Bernini, Giuliano Finelli, and Francesco Mochi, gathered from public and private collections worldwide for the first time in centuries.
A dedicated room focuses on Bernini as a painter, an activity that Urban VIII actively encouraged. It presents Bernini's most important public painting alongside its pendant by Andrea Sacchi, both on loan from the National Gallery in London. A fourth section uses drawings, engravings, and architectural models to illustrate Bernini's role in the great Vatican projects: the Baldacchino at St. Peter's, the remodeling of the crossing, and the funerary monument of Urban VIII.
The exhibition closes with a broader look at the cultural world of the Barberini court, known as the "Apes Urbanae" (Urban Bees), and the sophisticated artistic taste they spread across Europe.
Standout Loans From World Museums
The exhibition brings together loans from some of the world's most prestigious museums, including the Louvre in Paris, the Albertina in Vienna, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Vatican Museums, and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Among the works that stand out:
• Saint Sebastian from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, one of Bernini's most celebrated early sculptures and rarely seen outside Spain
• Putto with Dragon from the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, an early work that marks a turning point in Baroque sculpture
• Thomas Baker from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, a rarely exhibited portrait bust of striking psychological intensity
• Costanza Bonarelli from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, one of the most intimate and powerful portrait busts Bernini ever made
• Bernini's only major public painting, presented together with its pendant by Andrea Sacchi (National Gallery, London).
Tickets and Opening Hours
The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. The ticket office closes at 6:00 pm. On Mondays, visits are reserved for school groups (9:00 am to 2:00 pm).
Admission is a combined ticket valid for 20 days from first use, covering both the Bernini and the Barberini exhibition and access to the permanent collections at Palazzo Barberini and Galleria Corsini:
• Full price: €20.00
• Reduced (ages 18 to 25): €12.00
• Free: visitors under 18
Advance booking is strongly recommended. Reserve your tickets through the CoopCulture official booking portal.
Getting to Palazzo Barberini
Palazzo Barberini stands at Via delle Quattro Fontane 13 in central Rome. The nearest Metro stop is Barberini on Line A, a five-minute walk from the entrance. If you prefer the bus, lines 53, 61, 62, 63, 80, 81, 83, 160, 492, and 590 all stop at Piazza Barberini. The palace is roughly a ten-minute walk from the Trevi Fountain and fifteen minutes from the Spanish Steps.
The museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Elevators and dedicated services are available on site.
For full details and to plan your visit, see the official exhibition page at Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini.
Photo Credits: https://barberinicorsini.org/
