Artist # 6 Gian Lorenzo Bernini

I'm taking art history 102 and we just learned a little about Bernini's sculptures. We were first shown this picture and asked what it was we were looking at.
People in the class were saying, a thigh, an embrace, a hand, etc. and then someone said a sculpture. When they said that, I was thinking, "no it's not." Then we learned it was in fact a sculpture by Bernini. I was amazed at the detail and realness of it. What amazes me the most is that these artists could make such masterpieces in the 17th century. Back then the artists would study under someone starting when they're young and then develop their own styles. Art is their entire life. It's so different now. We study art, but i'm sure it's nothing like the way they studied it to make what they made. They were so talented and could make these sculptures with what they had. Everything else develops as time goes, but this kind of art hasn't seem to have gotten better. We're still studying art from thousands of years ago, it was so good. Anyways, here is the rest of this sculpture.
The title is The Rape of Proserpina. Bernini is famous for the moments he chose to depict in his sculptures. He chose the moments that were most dramatic. Here you have Proserpina struggling to try and get away from Pluto. Bernini is also famous for his movement in his sculptures. Here you see the twisting and moving in the struggle between the two. Some other sculptures by Bernini are shown here.


This is Bernini's version of David. It's much different than Michelangelo's version. Again Bernini chose the moment that shows the most drama. David is winding up to throw that first rock at Goliath. It gives so much movement that it is not only contained in this small space, but uses the space around it. When I look at it, I just imagine him to throw the rock and picture him releasing it.

Here is Apollo and Daphne

Bernini also did some architecture as well. His architecture incorporated sculpture as well. In St. Peter's cathedral he constructed this giant Baldachin for the main altar. You look at it and can't really tell how big it is, but it's about eight stories high. It's huge. Bernini was so talented and anyone can see when viewing his work. It is argued whether or not he or Michelangelo is the master of sculpture. I haven't learned enough to really have an opinion, but I do like Bernini's work.