Verisimilitude or naturalism (vivacità) has traditionally been one of the most debated concepts in literature about art. As far back as Classical Antiquity, inanimate objects such as statues, paintings, poems and buildings were described in terms of being ‘alive’. In the seventeenth-century Roman discourse it became more relevant than ever. Vivacità was especially important in portraiture. The lifelike quality required of a portrait could only be achieved through a faithful rendering of the characteristic, expressive facial appearance of the specific individual.
'Caravaggio-Bernini. Baroque in Rome' (14 February to 7 June 2020) is an exhibition of more than 70 masterpieces by Caravaggio, Bernini and their contemporaries. The paintings and sculptures are on loan to the Rijksmuseum from museums and private collections around the world.
www.rijksmuseum.nl/caravaggio-bernini
The Caravaggio-Bernini. Baroque in Rome exhibition is made possible in part by Ammodo, ING, Kvadrat, Rijks Patrons and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
