Lance Avery Morgan
Collection Comprised Of Over 30 Florentine Baroque-Era Masterpieces Dazzles
Photography courtesy of The Haukohl Collection and Phoenix Art Museum
A prominent Houstonian is in the national arts and culture spotlight, and we couldn’t be prouder of our fellow Texan. Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, of The Haukohl Collection has partnered with the Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) to present the Southwest premiere of “Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection.” It showcases a remarkable assembly of historically significant artworks from 17th– and 18th-century Florence, rarely seen outside Italy, according to culture follower, Lance Avery Morgan, who profiles the exhibit.
Gilded paintings shimmer and delicate sculptures command quiet reverence in Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection, a luminous exhibition that captures the poetic symbolism and vibrant aesthetics that define the Florentine Baroque style. Drawn from the esteemed Haukohl Collection, these iconic works present dramatic religious, classical, mythological, and allegorical narratives; each with provenance as pristine as the collection itself. Together, they reveal a period in which artistry, intellect, and devotion were inseparably intertwined.
Making its Arizona debut, the exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity for regional audiences to explore the legacy of prominent Florentine artists who flourished under the patronage of the Medici Grand Dukes. On view at Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) through July 26, 2026, Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection marks the first presentation of its kind in the state, situating Arizona within a broader international art historical dialogue.
“We are excited to present the Arizona and Southwest premiere of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection at Phoenix Art Museum,” shared Jeremy Mikolajczak, Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of the Museum. “This exhibition invites our audiences to delve into a specific artistic period rarely represented in our collection, offering a unique chance to view these stunning sculptures, paintings, and more in the Southwest. We extend our gratitude to Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl for partnering with us to bring this collection to our visitors.”
The dynamic presentation features more than 30 remarkable large and small-scale works by Florentine artists, curated over four decades by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, the Houston-based art collector and co-founder of the Medici Archive Project. The exhibition highlights the splendor and significance of Florentine Baroque art, a style that blends Florentine tradition with Renaissance sensibilities to create something both sensuous and deeply poetic.
Organized into three thematic sections, the exhibition explores Faith, Strength, and Courage through richly expressive Biblical narratives and religious figures, reflecting Florence’s dominant Catholic faith and enduring Renaissance humanism. Sacred Beauty, Fierce Devotion examines portraits of saints rendered with striking humanistic naturalism, marking a departure from earlier, more ethereal depictions of the divine. The final section, Allegory, Gods, and Heroes, turns to mythological and allegorical subjects, illuminating the era’s intellectual ambition and moral ideals.
“The Haukohl Philanthropies are thrilled to collaborate with Phoenix Art Museum in presenting the Medici Collection to the Arizona community through a variety of special programs,” enthused Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, co-founder of the Medici Archive Project. “This exhibition is dedicated in honor of my late cousin, Dr. Howard Somers Conant, whose scholarly contributions in art history continue to inspire.”
Enhancing the exhibition is a lavish, fully illustrated 288-page catalogue, Beyond the Medici: The Haukohl Family Collection, available in English, German, and Italian. The publication explores paintings, drawings, textiles, and sculptures from the collection while offering rare insight into Medici patronage and the artists who defined the period. Essays by leading scholars provide a comprehensive examination of collecting practices and the broader historical context surrounding Florentine Baroque art.
Throughout the exhibition’s run, Phoenix Art Museum will host a series of engaging programs designed to deepen visitors’ understanding of the social, cultural, and historical forces shaping the works on view. Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection presents the extraordinary examples of painting, sculpture, and decorative arts drawn from the most important Florentine Baroque art collection outside of Italy, assembled over more than 40 years by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl. Featuring works by Florentine artists and those working across Europe, the exhibition reflects Florence’s flourishing art industry and the enduring cultural and intellectual legacy of the Medici Grand Dukes on both the Renaissance and Baroque movements.
Shared with museums around the world, the Haukohl Collection has long illuminated the broader significance of Florentine art within European history, making its Arizona presentation not only a first but also a landmark moment.
So, what are you waiting for? Make your plans to visit here.
