Un Barocco troppo barocco. Riflessioni sulla colossale mostra di Forlì
A massive exhibition titled "Barocco: il gran teatro delle idee" (Baroque: The Grand Theater of Ideas) is on view at the Museo Civico San Domenico in Forlì, Italy. The show, curated by a committee of six, ambitiously attempts to define the Baroque across the 17th and 18th centuries, extending its scope to include France and Spain, and even suggesting its echoes in the 20th century. It features approximately 300 works, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
The exhibition has drawn significant criticism for its sprawling, unfocused curatorial approach. Reviewers argue it conflates the entire 17th century with the Baroque, leading to confusing juxtapositions and notable omissions of key artists and regional schools. The inclusion of weak attributions, a lack of explanatory wall texts, and a perceived reliance on bulk loans—particularly from Rome's Gallerie Nazionali d'Arte Antica—suggest a project assembled more from availability than a coherent thesis. While the show contains many magnificent individual works, its overall execution is seen as a disservice to the public and a missed opportunity for a nuanced exploration of the period.