Bartolomeo Cesi (1556–1629). The Painting of Silence in the Age of the Carracci

The Municipality of Bologna, through the Musei Civici d’Arte Antica and the Biblioteca comunale dell’Archiginnasio, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Bologna, presents the first major monographic exhibition dedicated to Bartolomeo Cesi (Bologna, 1556–1629), a leading figure in Bologna’s artistic scene between the 16th and 17th centuries.

Deeply rooted in spirituality and religious commissions, Cesi distinguished himself from the celebrated Carracci for his contemplative and personal style, where solemn figures and silent landscapes express a delicate balance between form and faith. His works, often created for churches and convents, embody the ideal of the “Christian artist” promoted by the post-Tridentine reform and were admired by Guido Reni for their profound spiritual coherence.

Hosted in the Lapidario of the Museo Civico Medievale, the exhibition unfolds through three thematic sections featuring over 30 works—including paintings, drawings, and monumental altarpieces—some of which have been restored for the occasion. The exhibition traces Cesi’s artistic evolution, from his early Mannerist influences to his dialogue with Carraccesque naturalism, highlighting his ability to merge compositional rigor with emotional depth.

The project finds a natural continuation in the 16th- and 17th-century galleries of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, where Cesi’s works are displayed alongside those of the Carracci, offering a comprehensive view of Bolognese painting in that period.

A unique opportunity to rediscover a master who combined art and spirituality, restoring to history the value of a painter as reserved as he was essential to understanding Bologna’s artistic culture between the Renaissance and the Baroque.

The exhibition is promoted by the Municipality of Bologna — through the Civic Museums of Ancient Art (Civic Museums Department) and the Archiginnasio Municipal Library (Libraries and Cultural Welfare Department) — together with the Archdiocese of Bologna, and is organized within the context of the Jubilee 2025 promoted by the Dicastery for Evangelization.

With the participation of: Musei Nazionali di Bologna – Regional Directorate of National Museums of Emilia-Romagna.
Main partner: Gruppo Hera
Sponsor: Reale Collegio di Spagna

In collaboration with: Fondo Edifici per il Culto, Fondazione Bologna Welcome, Padri Passionisti Bologna.

With the contribution of: Ascom Confcommercio Bologna, Profilati S.p.A., Rotary eClub 2072, Fondantico di Tiziana Sassoli.

With the patronage of: Region of Emilia-Romagna, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna | Department of the Arts.