A personal interpretation of 16th-century classicism: the work of Pietro da Cortona and an itinerary through the city of Rome.
A painter and architect, during his long career Pietro da Cortona developed an illusionistic style, a dramatic language based on a personal interpretation of 16th-century classicism. Though he remained faithful to historical fact in his scenarios, with the poses of the groups echoing the great example of Raphael, Titian and the Carracci, he also charged his compositions with theatrical vitality, going beyond the rules of symmetry toward a new centrifugal dynamic. The catalogue of the exhibition held in Rome for the 400th anniversary of his birth celebrates the genius of Pietro da Cortona, an extraordinary protagonist of the Roman baroque who stood out for his exceptional skill in painting frescoes, becoming the leader in that field in the capital. The volume also outlines an itinerary through the city to discover the works of this great master.