A Classical Story, a Baroque Interpretation, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Mauren Kennedy
Western Art History Survey II
Dr. Rod Miller
18 April 2012
A Classical Story, a Baroque Interpretation, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini When told his son would surpass him in artistic brilliance, Pietro Bernini of Florence simply responded, “…remember, that in this game the loser wins” (Fagiolo 9). A conversation held in the distant past, there was no way for Pietro to know that his son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, would come to be known as one of the most talented artists the world has ever seen. Fully immersed in the art world at a young age, Gian Lorenzo Bernini catapulted to artistic prominence soon after his initial commissions within the papacy. One of his earliest works, Bernini’s sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina not only illuminates Bernini’s astonishing skill in marble craft, but also serves as a perfect manifestation of Baroque ideals while simultaneously solidifying Bernini as a key artist of the Baroque art period which began its sweep across Europe during his lifetime. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born on December 7th, 1598, in the city of Naples, Italy (Fagiolo 3). His father, Pietro Bernini, was a gifted Florentine sculptor who moved his family to Rome in 1606, the city in which Bernini would live until his death (Fagiolo 3.) In his youth, Bernini spent a great majority of his time and training in his father’s workshop; it was here that Pietro taught his son “to exercise hand and eye continually in his craft” (Fagiolo 3). After moving to Rome, his father worked for several years in the service of the Borghese Pope Paul V (Wittkower 3). Through his father’s fortunate connection with the papacy, the young and extremely gifted Gian Lorenzo caught the eye of the Pope and his nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese (Wittkower 3). This initial discovery launched Bernini into his lifelong successful artistic career. From 1618 onwards, Bernini was consistently employed, creating incredible and awe-inspiring artworks in the city of Rome: “For more than half
Western Art History Survey II
Dr. Rod Miller
18 April 2012
A Classical Story, a Baroque Interpretation, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini When told his son would surpass him in artistic brilliance, Pietro Bernini of Florence simply responded, “…remember, that in this game the loser wins” (Fagiolo 9). A conversation held in the distant past, there was no way for Pietro to know that his son, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, would come to be known as one of the most talented artists the world has ever seen. Fully immersed in the art world at a young age, Gian Lorenzo Bernini catapulted to artistic prominence soon after his initial commissions within the papacy. One of his earliest works, Bernini’s sculpture of Pluto and Proserpina not only illuminates Bernini’s astonishing skill in marble craft, but also serves as a perfect manifestation of Baroque ideals while simultaneously solidifying Bernini as a key artist of the Baroque art period which began its sweep across Europe during his lifetime. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was born on December 7th, 1598, in the city of Naples, Italy (Fagiolo 3). His father, Pietro Bernini, was a gifted Florentine sculptor who moved his family to Rome in 1606, the city in which Bernini would live until his death (Fagiolo 3.) In his youth, Bernini spent a great majority of his time and training in his father’s workshop; it was here that Pietro taught his son “to exercise hand and eye continually in his craft” (Fagiolo 3). After moving to Rome, his father worked for several years in the service of the Borghese Pope Paul V (Wittkower 3). Through his father’s fortunate connection with the papacy, the young and extremely gifted Gian Lorenzo caught the eye of the Pope and his nephew, Cardinal Scipione Borghese (Wittkower 3). This initial discovery launched Bernini into his lifelong successful artistic career. From 1618 onwards, Bernini was consistently employed, creating incredible and awe-inspiring artworks in the city of Rome: “For more than half