"The Triumph of Divine Providence" is a universal masterpiece that is able to hit, at the distance of centuries, for its colours and brightness, for its message, for its size, and the strength that is able to emit. Come to the Barberini Palace in Rome to see it. Being astonished, you as ordinary visitors or me like a local tour guide!

We are in fact in the main salon of the Barberini Palace, that today is the seat of a museum full of paintings (such as the Fornarina by Raphael). But it is also plenty of magnificent frescoes that basically have a single purpose: to pay homage to the Barberini family, which became particularly powerful in Rome with the election as pontiff of one of its members, Maffeo Barberini, who would become pope with the name of Urban VIII.

To emphasize the virtues of a family capable of having a Pope among its ranks, he was called Pietro da Cortona, a leading exponent of the roman Baroque. We are at the 30's of the XVII century, and since that time this huge fresco, which covers an area of over 400 square meters, is striking much. Inside of a fake architecture, composed by painted marble frames, at the center stands the personification of the Divine Providence, with the yellow tunic and a bright light to surround the head, that sort of Immortality to crown the pontiff. We can see a young woman with a crown of stars to head towards the three large Bees, symbol of the Barberini family, surrounded by a wreath that is topped by the Keys of St. Peter, a representation of the papacy. But we also have other allegorical figures, such as the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity), or the representations of the Beauty, the Power, or the Modesty placed behind the throne of Providence. A triumph proper, a riot of colors that are lost in the ceiling that seems to give up towards the sky, towards the infinite. A breakthrough perspective and illusion, typical of the Baroque art.

It is not the end because along the walls, all around the frame where the scene takes place just described, there is more to admire. Episodes that, once again, serve to underline the virtues of the Barberini: we find, for example, the "Triumph of Religion and Spirituality", which is used to understand how the pontiff Urban VIII, being pope, is the guardian and protector of the them. In short, through these wonderful colours are inspired by the brush of Pietro da Cortona, through these allegorical figures that seem to fly gracefully on the ceiling, divided into frames in marble, fully painted, the Barberini Palace of Rome have found a great way to celebrate itself. But all the palace is full of works of art and frescoes fit for the purpose: for example try to think of the fresco called "The Triumph of Divine Wisdom" (click here to learn more). Really beautiful...