Bernini

In the Galleria Borghese, many important sculptures by Bernini can be found. His sculpture of David is particularly noteworthy. He shows David in motion in the moment before he catapults a rock at Goliath. The stance of David is a nod to his Greek predecessors and the Discobolus, which depicts the body in motion. In this statue, Bernini revitalizes Greek statues in the drama and emotion of the piece. Bernini expertly portrays David’s emotions through his use of detail, such as David biting his lower lip in an effort to portray his focus on the task at hand. Bernini effectively portrays the emotions of his subjects as well as evokes empathy in onlookers. One cannot look upon a Bernini sculpture and not have some emotional response. Bernini’s David is contrasted with Michelangelo’s portrayal of David, which is on display at the Accademia in Florence, in that it is in a more realistic form in both size and stature. (Photo from Galleria Borghese official website)

In addition to sculpting Christian themes, Bernini also sculpted pagan statues, such as Apollo and Daphne and the Rape of Persephone. In this, Bernini represents Rome as a whole with having produced something beautiful with both pagan and Christian motifs. This blending of pagan and Christian ideas is very significant in Rome’s history and identity. (Photo found online)