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Among the Italians, with Bernini

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It seems that every year, about half-way through, I lull. There is a huge gap in my blogs from about May to the end of the year. And this year, I didn't even start until March. Is it any wonder that my email used to be slacker_a?

While scrolling through favorite statuary, I came across Apollo and Daphne, and my eyes lit up. Maybe this story is so intriguing to me because I have a sister named Daphne. Or maybe the statue itself is what drew me in. Apollo, who has been hit by those tricky arrows that belong to Eros (a.k.a. Cupid), wants Daphne so badly that he won't give in to her refusals. Daphne detests Apollo, and begs her father for help in getting away from him. The way I see the story - and many others as well - is that Apollo was about to deprive Daphne of her virtue, and so her father turns her into a Laurel tree. She is still a living thing, and though not a human, has escaped Apollo's grasp.

From Wikipedia
This sculpture by Bernini is, in effect, enthralling. Most pieces done in marble by any master are beautiful at the least, but Bernini had a way with it. He had the ability to make a white rock resemble fine textile.
From TrekEarth, Bernini's Angel
This Angel sculpture by Bernini is an even better example of how fantastic he was when it came to sculpting cloth. The detail is incredible! He also had a way of leaving a form nude and covering it up at the same time, revealing the beauty of the human figure in a way that no one else had before.

Close Up of Apollo and Daphne, from WTF ArtHistory
If you look at the detail of Apollo's hand closing around Daphne's hip, you'll notice that his fingers never actually touch her skin, but that the bark of the tree has already formed and stops him from getting what he wants. I love how Bernini depicted the transformation of a human into a tree. You get a glimpse of her beauty before she is completely transformed, which is one of the things that makes this piece so captivating. If he would have sculpted an angry Apollo with a Laurel Tree, some of the power would have already exuded us.

The Rape of Persephone, from When In Rome
Bernini had a talent for capturing art "in the moment." He sculpted The Rape of Persephone, a truly horrifying moment (but again, captivating) at which Persephone is trying to escape Pluto, the ruler of Hades.

Ecstasy of St. Theresa, from Wikipedia
In the Ecstasy of St. Theresa, we are caught in the middle of a moment between St. Theresa and God, where the angel is a mediator. This is probably one of his more well-known sculptures, especially in the Roman-Catholic population of Italy. Again, there is meticulous attention to detail here, and we are intrigued and drawn-in by something we're not sure we should be a part of, though we simply cannot look away.

If you're ever in Italy, don't pass up the opportunity to see Bernini and the many other amazing works of art you'll find there. And, in case you haven't already guess, this year I'll be focusing on Italian artists. Join me next time for our next focus, Antonio Canova.


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