The Palazzo Farnese – Open! - DELETEDPAGES - Art History Abroad - Art History Abroad

                                                                                             ROME

                                                             Tuesday 8^th - Thursday 10^th March 2011

Normally impenetrable, the French Embassy at the Palazzo Farnese is opening its doors for three months only. On show are the most influential ceiling decorations after the Sistine Chapel.

                   Annibale Carracci - Detail from the Farnese Ceiling of Juno & Jupiter, husband and wife

                          - representing conventional marriage...

Decorated by Annibale and Agostino Carraci in the 1590's, the loggia of the Palazzo Farnese depicts a stupendous allegory of love.  The rarity of its viewing is easily eclipsed by its importance in the history of art as these paintings set the bench mark for the Baroque. The Carracci  family fuelled the idea of academic painting and founded the immensely significant Academy of Art at Bologna.

Also on show are other key works from the Farnese Collection which have been brought together especially.  In the 16^th century under Pope Paul III, the Farnese amassed a huge collection at a fascinating time when Michelangelo was alive and antiquities were being excavated in Rome on a daily basis. 

The Palazzo Farnese itself is one of the great buildings of the High Renaissance, being designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and, in part, Michelangelo.  The courtyard is wonderful and the exterior recently cleaned to show the building as both charming and thunderously powerful.

                                                                                                  Itinerary

Tuesday 8^th March

Our flight lands at 14.50.  Private transport to the Hotel Santa Chiara followed by an introduction to 16^th Century Rome and the Farnese dynasty. 

Wednesday 9^th March

am       A tour of the Palazzo Farnese by a palace guide. We will see the Galleria dei Carracci, the Grande Salone dei Fasti Farnesiani, il Camerino d'Ercole and the Farnese sculpture collection. 

pm       After a delicious lunch we will visit the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Caterina dei Funari  with works by the Carracci and Caravaggio.  In the later afternoon, when it is not too crowded, we will visit the Sistine Chapel.  Not only will we be able to make comparisons with Michelangelo but we will also examine in depth the often overlooked Last Judgment painted for Paul III, the Farnese pope.

Thursday 10^th March

am       We have a private viewing of the Palazzo Colonna to see the wonderfully frescoed private apartments of Principessa Isabella and the excellent painting collection which includes Annibale Carracci's groundbreaking 'Beaneater'.

pm       We will have time for a lunch and a spot of shopping before our private transport leaves for the 18.55 flight back to London. 

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