WORKS OF ART IN ROME: THE UNMISSABLE MASTERPIECES

Which are the works of art in Rome you can’t miss and you must see in this city that will amaze you in each corner?
In this post you’ll find a list of the unmissable works in Rome, that is to say the works everyone should see at least once in their life and which will make you discover the Eternal City following in the footsteps of its masterpieces.

Works of art in Rome you can’t miss

Caravaggio, Inspiration of Saint Matthew (1599-1600) – Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.

CARAVAGGIO IN SAN LUIGI DEI FRANCESI

In what has been the church of the French congregation since 1589,are three extraordinary masterpieces by Caravaggio: The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew and The Calling of Saint Matthew.
The works by Caravaggio are housed in the Contarelli Chapel and together are a cycle of paintings dedicated to Saint Matthew, which has never left its original placement.

MOSES BY MICHELANGELO

In the church of San Pietro in Vincoli is the tomb of Pope Julius II, on which Michelangelo Buonarroti worked for many years.
In fact, the artist began working on the design in 1505, but he completed the work only in 1545.
Of the original massive design, which called for over 40 statues, remains a small version but the statue of Moses is majestic and is one of the most important example of Renaissance sculpture.

APOLLO AND DAPHNE BY BERNINI

Among the works of art in Rome everyone should admire at least once in their life, are the masterpieces of the Borghese Gallery and in particular the sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
My favourite is Apollo and Daphne by Bernini, a sculpture group commissioned by cardinal Borghese together with other three sculpture groups, housed inside the Borghese Gallery.

THE THREE AGES OF WOMAN BY KLIMT

Not everyone knows or remembers that among the works of art in Rome is also Klimt’s masterpiece depicting the three stages of age every woman goes through.
“The Three Ages of a Woman” was exhibited in Rome in 1911 and was bought by the Italian Government and entered the National Gallery of Modern Art of Rome collection.

Klimt, The three ages of woman- National Gallery of Modern Art of Rome

THE TRIUMPH OF GALATEA BY RAPHAEL

Villa Farnesina houses one of the most beautiful frescoes by Raphael, outside Vatican City.
Painted in the same period in which the artist was working on the Room of the Signatura in the Vatican, it was commissioned by the banker Agostino Chigi, who wanted a mythological fresco to decorate the “Galatea” room, on the ground floor of the villa.

PORTRAIT OF POPE INNOCENT X

This painting was executed in 1650 by Diego Velázquez and is housed in the Doria Pamphilj Gallery.
It’s the portrait of Pope Innocent X, born Giovanni Battista Pamphili, which the artist during a trip to Rome offered to paint or it was commissioned by the Pope himself.
The painting has always belonged to the Pamphilj family and has never left either Rome or the palace housing it.

Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Diego Velázquez.