I heard it through the Tallahassee cultural grapevine that the Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science was going to extend the run of its blockbuster exhibit "Baroque Painting in Lombardy from the Pinacoteca di Brera," which was scheduled to close July 20. Well the Tallahassee cultural grapevine was correct! The exhibit has been extended until September 4.

I am so happy that the rumor was true. Now I have a chance to revisit the exhibit, which I viewed at the special gala opening night back in March. It was a most magical art experience. For the gala, which was part of the museum's annual wine festival, Kleman Plaza had been transformed into an Italian piazza, where ticketed guests nibbled Italian snacks and sipped a generous array of wines. There were wandering musicians, the night was clear and cool, and all were making merry.

After making the rounds on the piazza, I headed in to look at the art. The works in the exhibit are 16th century treasures from the Pinoteca di Brera, one of the great Italian museums. Many of the artists whose work is included in the exhibit were masters who influenced such later superstars as Caravaggio. The paintings range from a huge wall-sized work to smaller, more intimate pieces.

I particularly wanted to see the paintings by Sofonisba Anguissola, one of the first female artists to become famous in Europe at that time. An exquisite self-portrait and a pieta by Sofonisba - who became something of a protégé of Michelangelo - are in the Brogan exhibit.

I had a lovely ramble through the upper gallery, which is laid out especially to accommodate the Baroque exhibit. There were places to sit and contemplate the larger works, and delightful tucked-away niches where smaller works were hung. I made two quick rounds of the gallery and vowed to return for a more leisurely tour.

I haven't yet made good on that opening night pledge, so I hereby renew it - I will return. And if you haven't seen it, you should go, too. The Brogan needs your support and the exhibit itself is eminently worthy of your attention.

Call 513-0700 to find out about museum hours and admission prices or visit www.thebrogan.org.

Tags: Art, Baroque, Caravaggio, Culture, Italian, Mary Brogan, Michelangelo, Museum, Painting Pinacoteca di Brera, Sofonisba Anguissola, Tallahassee

Kati Schardl

Cultural Expert

Kati Schardl is the Features Editor for the Tallahassee Democrat. She’s a true North Florida native – born in Panama City and raised in Marianna. She came to Tallahassee to attend FSU and earned a social work degree before yielding to the scruffy allure of journalism and joining the staff of the Florida Flambeau. Her cultural credentials include a stint as backup singer for legendary local band Cold Water Army (now, alas, defunct) and founding membership in the SPACE arts collective in Railroad Square Art Park. After more than a decade of serving as office manager and chief research assistant/go-fer for the St. Petersburg Times capital bureau, Kati joined the staff of the Democrat as music writer and theater critic. In 2006, she was awarded an NEA Fellowship that enabled her to spend 10 days in Los Angeles seeing plays and attending writing workshops hosted by the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. Kati lives in Midtown West and loves its eclectic funkitude and its proximity to her favorite cultural hotspots.