Masterpieces of Art and Culture in Italy
Baroque painter Guido Reni (1575-1642) was born in Bologna, and was one of the most famous artists of his generation. He was commissioned by the noble Barbarini family in 1630 to paint St. Michael the Archangel in the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini in Rome. A rival family to the Barbarini was the Pamphilii family, which contained Cardinal Giovanni Battista Pamphilii. Reni felt Cardinal Pamphilii defamed his reputation and in revenge painted Pamphilii’s face as the face of the devil in the painting. When confronted, Reni replied, “It is true that I will never be able to do justice to angelical beauty, but I have seen the devil in the face, and that’s how I’ve painted him. Therefore, I won’t change a single thing.” Pamphilii later became Pope Innocent X! See the whole painting here.
One of the most famous paintings of the calling of St. Matthew the tax-collector by Jesus, is this stunning work of light and shadow by Caravaggio. It resides with two other paintings about Matthew in the the Church of St. Louis of the French, the national church in Rome of France. The church is located near the Piazza Navona in Rome. View this video from SmartHistory explaining the painting in depth.
This beautiful, and probably most well-known image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was painted by Pompeo Batoni. Learn more about this famous painting by clicking here.
Visit my Vatican Treasures page, and the articles about Art & Culture in Italy below.
The Sistine Chapel & Michelangelo
The Sistine Chapel & Michelangelo The Sistine Chapel was built in the Vatican between 1473 and 1481, on order of Pope Sixtus IV, and dedicated
Puccini, La Bohème, and Italian Opera
Whenever I think of the opera, memories of my father come to mind. You may have heard me share the very special recording of my father,
The Basilica of St. Mary Major
The Basilica of St. Mary Major, is one of the four papal major basilicas, and the largest, and perhaps oldest church dedicated to the Blessed
Piazza Navona: Home of the Three Fountains, St. Agnes’ Basilica, and the Braski Palace/Museu di Roma
Located in the center of Rome, in the district of Campus Martius, the Piazza Navona is one of the most treasured of all of the
Milan’s La Scala Opera House
Toscanini, Verdi, Puccini – just some of the great names of conductors and composers associated with Milan’s famous Opera House, Teatro alla Scala. Most of
The Last Judgment: Michelangelo’s Masterpiece Continues To Inspire Hearts & Prepare Souls
The Last Judgment by Michelangelo is the one of the most famous of all of his frescoes and covers the entire east wall behind the
Matera & Festa Della Bruna
I absolutely love Matera, as it is one of my favorite places in Italy and covers one third of my Italian heritage. Matera is in
St. Francis & The First Nativity Scene
In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi, a deacon, was in Greccio, Italy for Christmas. He had recently visited the Holy Land, and wanted to inspire