Explore the Borghese Gallery Artwork Collection
One of the most well-known art museums in the world is the Borghese Gallery. Housed in the ancient Villa Borghese Pinciana in Rome, Italy, the museum displays a large collection of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities, which was started by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, Pope Paul V's nephew and avid art collector. Read on to get an insight into the various artworks that make up the Borghese Gallery collection.
Explore Borghese Collection
Explore Borghese Collection
Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577–1633), the most erudite and merciless art collector of his day, founded the museum's collection. It was originally housed at the cardinal's mansion near St Peter's, but it was moved to his new villa outside Porta Pinciana in the 1620s. The collection of Borghese Gallery consists of over 800 paintings and close to a hundred sculptures. It houses works by notable artists such as Caravaggio, Raphael, and Titian, as well as ancient Roman art.
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Paintings
Borgese Gallery is known for its vast collection of artworks from various periods of time. There are over 800 paintings that are a part of the Borghese Gallery collection. Galleria Borghese's paintings are among the most exquisite in Italian Baroque. Some of the most important paintings that are a part of the collection of Borghese Gallery include Young Sick Bacchus by Caravaggio, Sacred and Profane Love by Titian, Cupid Complaining to Venus by Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Madonna with Child between Saints Flavian and Onuphrius by Lorenzo Lotto.
Sculptures
The sculptures of Borghese Gallery are known far and wide because of their creators and the sheer magnificence of the pieces themselves. There are numerous sculptures housed at Borghese Gallery that are a must-see for everyone, irrespective of their interest in art. A few of the renowned sculptures in the Borghese art collection are Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova, Sleeping Hermaphrodite, and Two Busts of Cardinal Scipione Borghese and The Goat Amalthea with the Infant Jupiter and a Faun by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Borghese Gallery Collection Highlights | Must-See Artworks
Sculptures
- Rape of Proserpina (Ratto di Proserpina), Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Created between 1621 and 1622.
This sculpture can be found in Room 4 also known as the Room of the Emperors. - Statue of the Sleeping Hermaphroditus, Unknown
Believed to have been made before 1620. The mattress on which the sculpture is laid on an understated masterpiece by Bernini.
You can find this sculpture in Room 5 or the Hermaphroditus Room. - Marcus Curtius Throwing Himself into the Chasm, Pietro Bernini
The horse in the sculpture was crafted sometime around the 1st or 2nd century BCE. This artwork can be found in Salone of the Borghese Gallery. - David, Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Made between the years 1623 and 1624.
You can find this masterpiece in Room 2 or the David Room. - Two Busts of Cardinal Scipione Borghese, Gian Lorenzo Bernini
This sculpture was created in 1632.
Two Busts of Cardinal Scipione Borghese can be found in Room 14 or Lanfranco Loggia.
Paintings
- David with the Head of Goliath, Caravaggio
This famous work was painted between 1609 and 1610.
The painting is currently housed in Room 8 or the Silenus Room. - Cupid complaining to Venus, Lucas Cranach the Elder
Painted by in 1525.
The painting can today be found in Room 10 or the Hercules Room of Borghese Gallery. - Melissa, Dosso Dossi
Created in the year 1518.
Melissa is currently on display in Room 3, also known as Apollo and Daphne Room. - The Hunt of Diana, Domenichino
Painted between 1616 and 1617.
Currently, the painting can be found in Room 19 or the Helen and Paris Room. - The Young Sick Bacchus, Caravaggio
This masterpiece was painted between 1593 and 1594.
The painting can be found in Room 8 or the Silenus Room of Borghese Gallery.
Visitor Tips
- Don’t forget to rent audio guides before starting your Borghese Gallery exploration as it greatly enhances your knowledge about the collection.
- Apart from the original and permanent collection, Borghese Gallery also hosts limited period exhibits that are a must-experience.
- If you happened to visit the Borghese Gallery during the rush hours, go to the rooms that do not have the wildly popular artworks first.
- Go about your visit methodically as you won’t have more than the stipulated 2 hours to explore the vast Borghese Gallery collection.
- Do your research and try to visit the Borghese Gallery outside the busy times of the day because there is a lot to unravel if you get a good look at the collection.
- Walk around the area near Borghese Gallery after your visit and see other attractions like the Spanish Steps, Villa Medici, Keats-Shelley House, National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, and many more.
All Your Questions About Borghese Collection Answered
A. Borghese Gallery consists of over 800 paintings and close to a hundred sculptures.
A. The collection of the Borghese Gallery was largely collected in the early 17th century.
A. Some of the most famous paintings at Borghese Gallery are Portrait of Paul V and John in the Wilderness by Caravaggio, Deposition by Raphael, Danaë by Correggio, and The Last Supper by Jacopo Bassano.
A. Some of the most famous sculptures at Borghese Gallery are Aeneas, Anchises, Ascanius, La Verità, Ratto di Proserpina, and David by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Pauline Bonaparte by Antonio Canova, and Marcus Curtius Throwing Himself into the Chasm by Pietro Bernini.
A.The Borghese Collection consists of paintings, sculptures, as well as various other artifacts collected by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and then added by the Gallery itself.
A. It would take about two hours to explore the Borghese Collection.
A. The best artworks in the Borghese Collection include David by Bernini, Pauline Bonaparte by Antonio Canova, Marcus Curtius Throwing Himself into the Chasm by Pietro Bernini, Danaë by Correggio, and The Last Supper by Jacopo Bassano.
A. No, the entire Borghese Collection is not on display at one single time at Borghese Gallery as a part of the collection was acquired by the Louvre in 1807.
A. The Borghese Collection was started in the early 17th century, but the collection also includes pieces from as far back as the 2nd century BCE.
A. The Borghese Gallery is famous for the large collection of Italian Baroque artworks that are displayed at the villa.
A. Entrance to the Borghese Gallery costs €21 when purchased online. You can purchase tickets online.