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.
Caravaggio shocked his contemporaries by casting society’s outsiders as saints and Madonnas, blurring the line between sacred and profane and challenging who is deemed worthy of reverence. This session of Baroque + Bottle turns that lens towards contemporary literature, asking how stories can reclaim agency for voices too often silenced.
We’ll read Raven Leilani’s breakout debut "Luster," a razor-sharp, darkly comic novel that follows Edie, a young Black woman stumbling through love, art, and survival in a world that rarely makes space for her. Through Leilani’s fearless prose, Luster lays bare the complexities of race, sexuality, and selfhood in the modern age, echoing the raw humanity at the heart of Caravaggio’s work.
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.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
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.
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