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Galleria Borghese
Celebri tesori d’arte arredano gli inimitabili scenari di una dimora principesca: alla Galleria Borghese è dedicata questa guida, realizzata con la collaborazione della Sopraintendenza per i Beni artistici e Storici di Roma e delle Direzione del Museo.
L’itinerario di visita si snoda attraverso le sale con l’ausilio di utili piante e consente di ammirare tutti i dipinti e le sculture esposte, oltre a più di cento opere della prestigiosa collezione archeologica.
Accompagnano il visitatore schede esaurienti, corredate da fotografie che riproducono fedelmente i colori originali. Il risultato è una guida che, come nessun’altra, restituisce la ricchezza e la complessità di collezione uniche al mondo.
L’itinerario di visita si snoda attraverso le sale con l’ausilio di utili piante e consente di ammirare tutti i dipinti e le sculture esposte, oltre a più di cento opere della prestigiosa collezione archeologica.
Accompagnano il visitatore schede esaurienti, corredate da fotografie che riproducono fedelmente i colori originali. Il risultato è una guida che, come nessun’altra, restituisce la ricchezza e la complessità di collezione uniche al mondo.
415 pages
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2014
Usually I pick up a book and read it cover to cover, then move on to the next one. In the case of "The Borghese Gallery" I took a long time and permitted many interruptions. There is simply too much here to engulf in a steady stream.
The Borghese may be the most overlooked major attraction in Rome. Built in pieces in the early 1600s, situated in a large park in the middle of Rome, accessible by subway, it includes masterpieces dating at least from the first century BCE to the early Eighteenth century. The building itself is a masterpiece, decorated and planned, literally from the floor to the ceilings. Even the spines of the doors, that part hidden behind the hinges when the door is closed, are carved and decorated. The vaulted ceilings, the inlaid floors, the niched walls: everything is planned and beautiful.
The book explains the history of the building and the Borghese family, albeit briefly. Moving on, each room is examined piece by piece, with full color pictures, explanations of the subject, notes on authenticity. Certainly no one will find every picture wondrous, but they are all worth a look and many are heart stoppers. Besides the building itself, and the pictures of paintings, the book of course covers the sculpture, which even on the printed page is beyond belief.
I am here to review the book, but I find it impossible not to review the Gallery simultaneously. For anyone lucky enough to visit Rome, I suggest planning on the Borghese. I do mean plan, as admission is by ticket only, and ticketing is limited to a certain number of people for two hour periods. You purchase your ticket and with it comes an admission time. The plan I suggest for Rome is doing the usual things in the morning---getting crushed in crowds of pushy loud morons at the Vatican, getting your picture taken with a "Roman Gladiator" outside the Coliseum, hanging at the Spanish Steps, and so on. Then take a lunch break because the food is incredible. Afterward, each day, plan a stop at the Borghese. Spend an hour, then move on. You can stay for two hours, and if yu only go once, then stay for the full two hours, but your brain will stop processing the magnificence after an hour or so. Spend the extra few bucks and ticket two days at least. Whenever you go, set aside time for at least one casual stroll through the park, which contains many hidden and pleasing surprises. And stop by the book store and buy a copy of 'The Borghese Gallery'. It will enrich your life for a long time to come.
The Borghese may be the most overlooked major attraction in Rome. Built in pieces in the early 1600s, situated in a large park in the middle of Rome, accessible by subway, it includes masterpieces dating at least from the first century BCE to the early Eighteenth century. The building itself is a masterpiece, decorated and planned, literally from the floor to the ceilings. Even the spines of the doors, that part hidden behind the hinges when the door is closed, are carved and decorated. The vaulted ceilings, the inlaid floors, the niched walls: everything is planned and beautiful.
The book explains the history of the building and the Borghese family, albeit briefly. Moving on, each room is examined piece by piece, with full color pictures, explanations of the subject, notes on authenticity. Certainly no one will find every picture wondrous, but they are all worth a look and many are heart stoppers. Besides the building itself, and the pictures of paintings, the book of course covers the sculpture, which even on the printed page is beyond belief.
I am here to review the book, but I find it impossible not to review the Gallery simultaneously. For anyone lucky enough to visit Rome, I suggest planning on the Borghese. I do mean plan, as admission is by ticket only, and ticketing is limited to a certain number of people for two hour periods. You purchase your ticket and with it comes an admission time. The plan I suggest for Rome is doing the usual things in the morning---getting crushed in crowds of pushy loud morons at the Vatican, getting your picture taken with a "Roman Gladiator" outside the Coliseum, hanging at the Spanish Steps, and so on. Then take a lunch break because the food is incredible. Afterward, each day, plan a stop at the Borghese. Spend an hour, then move on. You can stay for two hours, and if yu only go once, then stay for the full two hours, but your brain will stop processing the magnificence after an hour or so. Spend the extra few bucks and ticket two days at least. Whenever you go, set aside time for at least one casual stroll through the park, which contains many hidden and pleasing surprises. And stop by the book store and buy a copy of 'The Borghese Gallery'. It will enrich your life for a long time to come.
November 11, 2007
Books are wonderful to own, (if you don't have to move them). By now it should be obvious I'm fond of art books. I haven't started adding the dissertations I've collected yet! Over the cousre of a decade every time I returned to Rome the Borghese was closed for restoration. Just prior to the the millenium my father, sister and I got to visited the palace. If ever in Rome, its a "must-see."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews