Marcello Provenzale da Cento

To mark the 450th anniversary of his birth, the Galleria Borghese pays tribute to Marcello Provenzale da Cento (1576-1639), a neglected genius of Baroque mosaic art. An exceptional artist, Provenzale elevated the mosaic technique to an unparalleled level of refinement in the Borghese Rome. The exhibition showcases his most remarkable works, where semi-precious stones and tiny tesserae compose paintings of astonishing precision. His mosaics, true paintings in stone, depict allegorical scenes, animals, and still lifes with a striking realism. The collaboration with the Pinacoteca Civica « Il Guercino » of Cento allows for the gathering of an exceptional corpus that testifies to Provenzale’s technical virtuosity and artistic sensitivity. A discovery that reveals a fascinating chapter in Roman Baroque art.