Roads to Rome

In this episode, we delve into Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City, a groundbreaking film that captured the raw aftermath of Nazi occupation and the resilience of the human spirit. Credited with launching Italian Neorealism, the film blends real locations, non-professional actors, and a documentary feel to portray resistance. We discuss Rossellini’s complex use of fascist-era techniques to delive...

In this episode, we explore Cronaca Bizantina, a bold literary journal that captured the energy and upheaval of late 19th-century Rome. Under the savvy publisher Angelo Sommaruga, the journal became a platform for rising stars like Gabriele D’Annunzio and celebrated writers like Giosuè Carducci. Blending art, scandal, and politics, Cronaca Bizantina navigated the clash between tradition and modern...

In this episode, we explore the Benziger Brothers’ pivotal role in shaping American Catholic visual culture from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Known for outfitting churches with everything from stained glass to statues, Benziger helped create an accessible and distinctly American Catholic aesthetic. We discuss how their catalog evolved with cultural shifts, blending tradition with moderni...

In this episode, we explore the world of Catholic kitsch, from mass-produced Saint Sulpice statues to quirky bobblehead nuns. These seemingly simple objects spark debate about art, taste, and faith. Once dismissed as overly sentimental, Catholic kitsch is now seen by some as a way to connect with tradition and create personal expressions of devotion. We dive into the history, cultural shifts, and...

In this episode, we dive into the thriving sacred art market of 19th-century Rome, where religious paintings and sculptures were produced and shipped worldwide. Orchestrated by Pope Pius IX, artists like Pietro Gagliardi created works that carried both beauty and spiritual power, enhanced by papal blessings and indulgences. Through partnerships with influential patrons, such as the Jesuits, Rome b...

In this episode, we explore 19th-century Mexico’s strategic choice to look to Rome for inspiration in shaping its national art scene. Following independence, Mexico funded artists to study at Rome’s Accademia di San Luca, seeking to adopt its techniques while crafting a unique Mexican identity. Figures like Pellegrín Clavé and Manuel Vilar brought back not only skills but a vision that merged Mexi...

In this episode, we explore the bold ideas of architect Marcello Piacentini, who sought to balance the preservation of Rome’s historical beauty with the demands of modern urban development. His 1916 essay envisioned a layered Rome, where the ancient, medieval, and modern cities coexist harmoniously. We dive into his ambitious plans for green spaces, transportation, and urban expansion while preser...

In this episode, we explore the intertwined lives of Friedrich Overbeck and Tommaso Minardi, two leading figures of 19th-century religious art. Both artists rejected the secular trends of their time, striving to revive the spiritual depth of Renaissance masters. Overbeck’s minimalist, abstract style contrasted with Minardi’s more realistic approach, yet both aimed to express deep spiritual truths....

In this episode, we delve into the world of Purism through the life and work of Tommaso Minardi, a central figure in 19th-century Italian art. Minardi emphasized the importance of drawing as the purest form of artistic expression. His admiration for the early Renaissance “primitives” like Giotto and Fra Angelico led him to reject the classical styles of his time, advocating for a rediscovery of th...

In this episode, we explore the artistic partnership between Friedrich Overbeck, leader of the Nazarene movement, and sculptor Karl Hoffmann, whose works found a lasting home at Ushaw College. We dive into how their shared vision shaped religious art during the 19th-century Catholic revival in England. From Our Lady of Help to other notable commissions at Ushaw, Hoffmann’s sculptures, deeply influ...

In this episode, we dive into the story of the Nazarenes, a 19th-century art movement that sought to blend religious reverence with rebellion against the secular art trends of their time. These German artists, disillusioned with the Enlightenment’s influence, moved to Rome to reconnect with the spiritual depth of early Renaissance masters up to Raphael. We explore how their distinctive style of sh...

In this episode, we explore the evolution of religious art in France from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, focusing on the transition from Saint Sulpice’s vibrant, mass-produced statues to the minimalist forms of modern sacred art. We discuss how figures like Maurice Denis and Father Couturier grappled with tradition and innovation, balancing religious expression with artistic change. Discov...

In this episode, we dive into the surprising legacy of Fabiola , a 19th-century novel that became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring artists, sculptors, and even entire exhibitions. From Edward von Steinle’s paintings to Stefano Galletti’s neoclassical sculptures, Fabiola ignited a wave of creativity across Europe. We explore how this novel’s themes of faith, martyrdom, and resilience captured the i...

In this episode, we explore a fascinating moment at the 1867 Paris World’s Fair, where Pope Pius IX commissioned a replica of the Roman catacombs. We delve into why the papacy chose to display this morbid yet symbolic exhibit at a time when progress and innovation were on full display. Through the work of archaeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi, the replica became a statement of resilience, faith...

In this episode, we explore the vibrant spectacle of 17th-century Rome, where the city itself became a stage for grand festivals and elaborate celebrations. Architects like Bernini designed temporary structures, known as ephemeral architecture, transforming Rome into a theatrical wonder. Centuries later, these same spaces hosted high-profile fashion shows, echoing the grandeur of the past. Discove...

In this episode, we are focusing on how 18th-century Rome’s apartment buildings embodied ideals of simplicity, harmony, and beauty. Architects like Raguzzini approached these structures with a sense of balance and integration, blending them seamlessly into the city’s urban landscape. From the use of curves to create flow and movement to fostering community through thoughtful design, we reveal how...

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating rivalry between Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen through the eyes of William Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Exploring his collection at Chatsworth House, we discover how the Duke’s personal taste and diaries reveal his preference for Canova’s meticulous craftsmanship over Thorvaldsen’s more collaborative approach. We discuss how these two...

In this episode, we explore the 19th-century artistic rediscovery of Rome, focusing on how artists captured the city’s complex layers of history, from its ancient ruins to its Christian heritage. Far from the polished tourist sites we know today, these artists engaged with a Rome that was both decaying and majestic. We discuss how figures like Carl Friedrich Schinkel and Ippolito Caffi saw Rome as...

In this episode, we delve into the world of neoclassicism, exploring its complex and dynamic history. Far beyond Roman columns and Grecian robes, we uncover how neoclassical artists navigated the intersection of tradition, innovation, and moral purpose. Through debates about beauty, power struggles, and movements within movements, we explore how figures like Jacques-Louis David and Antonio Canova...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the “Square Colosseum.” Originally designed as a symbol of Mussolini’s fascist regime, the building has undergone a dramatic transformation over the decades, from a political monument to the headquarters of high fashion brand Fendi. We dive into the building’s controversial history, how it went...

In this episode, we explore how the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the “Square Colosseum,” has been reimagined in four different films. Once a symbol of Mussolini’s fascist ideology, this imposing structure has since become a versatile canvas for directors like Fellini, Greenaway, Taymor, and Wimmer. Each filmmaker uses the building to reflect on themes like power, control, and hist...

In this episode, we explore the legendary rivalry between two titans of neoclassical sculpture, Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen. Both masters of their craft, they transformed the art of sculpture in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with their contrasting styles—Canova’s sensual, emotional figures versus Thorvaldsen’s cool, precise forms. We dive into their groundbreaking techniques, th...

In this episode, we explore the dramatic rebirth of the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura after its devastating fire in 1823. From the ancient connection to Saint Paul’s tomb to the architectural debates following the disaster, we uncover the story of how this sacred site was transformed. The episode delves into the tensions between tradition and modernity, as architects like Giuseppe Valadier a...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of Arcadian Classicism in 18th-century Rome. Far from the typical grand narratives of ruins and gladiators, we uncover how the Accademia dell’Arcadia (Arcadian Academy) sought to harmonize classical ideals with the intellectual spirit of the Enlightenment. Through their pursuit of balance, order, and refined beauty, these artists crafted a new visi...

In this episode, we explore the rise of Baroquemania in late 19th and early 20th-century Italy, a period when the once-dismissed Baroque style made a dramatic comeback. We examine how Italy, newly unified and seeking a national identity, turned to Baroque art and architecture as symbols of grandeur and power. This resurgence wasn’t just about aesthetics; it reflected deeper cultural anxieties abou...