Bernini

Although Bernini wasn’t a part of the Renaissance, his work was a part of our experience in Rome.  The Bernini Sculptures could be found throughout Rome: Borghese, as fountains on the streets and in St. Peters.  I’m going to talk about my 3 favorite.

Upon entering the Borghese, one of the first rooms you enter and one of the very first marble sculptures you see is The Rape of Persephone.  Apart from losing your ability to breathe, you also can’t take your eyes off of the sculpture.  The petrifying fear, anguish, helplessness and impending undoing that you can clearly see upon her face are in direct contrast to the brutality, pride and conquering delight that you can see upon the face of Hades.  You can feel her terror.  You can – with absolute disgust – feel the fulfillment of his desire and excitement.  Each detail in its intricacy is perfect and completely astounding.

 

The canopy that is found above the altar in St. Peters is casted bronze in the form of flowing fabric.  Let me say that again:  A hard, dense metal is casted in a way that successfully imitates the flow of a light, gravity-dependant cloth.  It is amazing.  Just as in The Rape of Persephone each intricate detail was astounding.  In the same way that Hades’ fingers grasped the flesh of Persephone depicted ferocity and control, each leaf, bee and wrinkle that could be found on the pillars and canopy above the altar was delicate and graceful.

This piece was overwhelming because of its size.  In the picture you can see a doorway, that door is about 15 feet tall; that will help you gain the correct perception of the mass of this sculpture.  It can be found under one of the supporting pillars of St. Peter’s Cathedral.  It is a mixture of marble and bronze and is a Tribute to Alexander VII.  Below a cascading rush of marble “fabric” you can find Bernini’s bronze casted depiction of Death.  Death’s hand is extended holding out an hour glass as an eerie reminder that this life that we so expectantly live is going to end.

Bernini was a Hellenistic sculptor; his work was beyond the Renaissance.  But, the works he created – and all of the works of the Hellenistic period – would have not been possible in their beauty and sophistication without the success, growth and splendor of the Renaissance.