FROM RAPHAEL TO CARRACCI: THE ART OF PAPAL ROME EXHIBITION CATALOG

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN 16th CENTURY ROME'S FASCINATING CULTURAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY WHEN YOU READ THE EXHIBITION CATALOG OF 'FROM RAPHAEL TO CARRACCI: THE ART OF PAPAL ROME'. ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA AND PRESENTED BY SUN LIFE FINANCIAL, THE EXHIBITION IS ON VIEW UNTIL 7.SEPTEMBER.2009. WRITTEN BY A TEAM OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS, THE CATALOG HIGHLIGHTS CONSIDERABLE NEW RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES IN ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART HISTORY THAT ARE BEING PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT REVEALS A PERIOD THAT WAS AS EVENT FILLED AND DRAMATIC AS ANY IN THE HISTORY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE POPES WHO REIGNED FROM 1503 TO 1605, WERE AS RESPECTED, FEARED AND EVES AS CORRUPT AS OTHER EUROPEAN FAMILY DYNASTIES AND FAVORED THE TALENT OF CELEBRATED MASTERS SUCH AS RAPHAEL, MICHELANGELO, SALVIATI, AND VASARI. THROUGH THEIR ENLIGHTENMENT PATRONAGE, NOR ONLY DID THEY FURTHER THE BELIEF SYSTEM OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BUT THEY ALSO RESHAPED THE CULTURAL AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF ROME TRANSFORMING IT INTO THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE FOR OVER THREE CENTURIES. RICH IN CONTENT, ITS FOUR ESSAYS ILLUSTRATE THE THEMES OF THE EXHIBITION: FROM RAPHAEL TO CARRACCI: AN INTRODUCTION, BY DAVID FRANKLIN: ART AND ART PATRONAGE IN 16th CENTURY PAPAL ROME: PATTERNS AND INTENTIONS, BY SEBASTIAN SCHUTZE; ROME RESTORED: VILLAS, COLLECTIONS, AND GARDENS OF ANTIQUITIES IN 16th CENTURY ROME, BY INGRID D ROWLAND. AVAILABLE IN HARD COVER ONLY, THE FROM RAPHAEL TO CARRACCI: THE ART OF PAPAL ROME CATALOG IS ON SALE IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH AT A COST OF $75.00 AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA BOOKSTORE OR ONLINE AT www.shopngc.ca.