It includes a set of paintings by Pietro da Cortona (Self-portrait), Il Baciccio (a bozzetto for The Apotheosis of Saint Peter ), and Andrea Pozzo (The Presentation at the Temple). These artists, masters of Roman trompe-l'oeil, were also responsible for the most beautiful ceiling decorations to be found in the churches and palaces in Baroque Rome.

Bozzetto de "l'Apothéose de Saint Pierre", Baciccio
Musée Fesch - Ajaccio

These artists, masters of Roman trompe-l'oeil, were also responsible for the most beautiful ceiling decorations to be found in the churches and palaces in Baroque Rome. Indeed, it was in Rome that the most striking ceiling decorations were painted throughout the 17th century. These huge murals covered all or part of the vault of a church or state room (a drawing room or gallery) and used the most virtuoso illusionist techniques known in painting.

This exhibition brings together some of the most important bozzetti (sketches) and modelli (preparatory paintings) that the artists executed for the decoration of Roman ceilings and altarpieces.

"Autoportrait", Pierre de Cortone
Musée Fesch - Ajaccio

It also shows how these ceiling decorations evolved over time : from the Carracci brothers "quadro riportato" to Lanfranco's swirling cupola, from Il Baciccio's hole in the vault to Pozzo's flight into the clouds, ending with an evocation of solutions proposed by Giordano, Solimena, Giaquinto, as well as Maratta and Chiari.

"La présentation au Temple", Andrea Pozzo
Musée Fesch - Ajaccio