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In conjunction with In Caravaggio’s Light | Baroque Masterpieces from the Fondazione Roberto Longhi, the MFA introduces the Baroque + Bottle Book Club, a dynamic literary series that pairs contemporary fiction with the timeless themes of the Baroque. Presented in partnership with Book + Bottle, St. Pete’s beloved independent bookstore and wine bar, each gathering invites readers to dive into contemporary novels that echo the emotional intensity, moral tension, and timeless questions embedded in the Baroque movement. With expertly paired wines, lively, guided conversations, and exclusive in-gallery experiences, this series creates unexpected connections between the masterpieces on view and the pressing issues of today.
While Baroque artists celebrated divine light and sacred ecstasy, they also revealed the shadows of human weakness through figures caught between transcendence and ruin. Caravaggio himself embodied this tension, living a life marked by violence, instability, and excess even as he painted scenes of profound spirituality and grace. His work, and his struggles, underscore the fragile line between sin and salvation that has fascinated artists and audiences for centuries.
This session takes that exploration into contemporary literature with Kaveh Akbar’s acclaimed debut novel Martyr!. Following Cyrus Shams, the newly sober son of Iranian immigrants, the novel navigates grief, addiction, obsession, and faith with humor, poetry, and raw honesty. Cyrus’s search for the truth through martyrs, memory, and art unfolds as both a portrait of human vulnerability and a testament to resilience.
What to Expect:
6:00–6:30 pm — Arrivals: grab a glass of wine and ease in with thought-starter prompts and casual conversation.
6:30–7:30 pm — Guided discussion led by Book + Bottle, exploring the book’s themes and connections to the Baroque.
7:30–8:00 pm — Gallery spotlight with MFA curators and educators: a focused look at a work from In Caravaggio’s Light to bring the conversation full circle.
Baroque + Bottle Book Club | Fragility + Faith
Thursday, January 15, 2026
6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg FL 33701
$25 for Members; $35 for Not-Yet-Members.
Tickets include program and 1 glass of wine. Additional wine available for purchase. A limited number of copies are available at the MFA Shop and at Book + Bottle! Get 10% off the next book on the night of each book club!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
255 Beach Dr NE, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States, Florida 33701, 255 Beach Dr NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701-3413, United States, St. Petersburg
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