The Borghese Gallery. From Raphael to Bernini

The exhibition La Galleria Borghese. From Raphael to Bernini. History of a Collection, held at the Complesso Monumentale di San Francesco, came to a close on 12 April to great public acclaim, attracting a record 35,500 visitors. Curated by Francesca Cappelletti and Ettore Giovanati, it was organised by the Fondazione CRC and Intesa Sanpaolo, with organisational support from MondoMostre.

The widespread interest generated by the exhibition is also evidenced by the significant participation in the educational activities and side events, which formed part of the Laboratorio Cuneo, a project based on the principles of beauty and participation, accessibility and sustainability, with the aim of engaging a diverse audience. As part of the initiative, over 370 free guided tours for groups were organised, involving more than 8,000 participants.

The project marks a new chapter in the collaboration launched in 2022, which brings major figures from art history to the city of Cuneo thanks to the cultural commitment of Fondazione CRC and Intesa Sanpaolo’s Progetto Cultura.
The exhibition explores the extraordinary collecting vision of Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese (1577–1633), a central figure in 17th-century Rome and a leading patron of the Baroque. Nephew of Pope Paul V, Scipione transformed Villa Borghese into an ideal museum and built, with passion and bold determination, one of the most celebrated art collections in Europe — combining personal taste with dynastic prestige.

On display, a selection of masterpieces by artists such as Titian, Jacopo Bassano, and Guido Reni, on loan from the Borghese Gallery, highlights the richness and diversity of a collection that
remains unique in the history of Italian art.