Rape of Proserpine. The Rape of Proserpina is a large Baroque marble sculptural group by Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, executed between 1621 and 1622.
Bernini was only 23 years old at its completion. It depicts the Abduction of Proserpina, who is seized and taken to the underworld by the god Pluto.
As with many of Bernini's early works, it was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, possibly alongside a portrait of Scipione's uncle Pope Paul V. Bernini received at least three payments for the statue, of value of at least 450 Roman scudi. The sculpture was begun in 1621 and completed in 1622.
Quite soon after its completion, the statue was given by Scipione to Cardinal Ludovisi in 1622, who transported it to his villa. Purchased by the Italian State, it returned to the Villa Borghese in 1908.
Most critics have been quick to praise the work. Rudolf Wittkower noted: representations of such rape scenes depended on Bernini's new, dynamic conception for the next hundred and fifty years. Howard Hibbard makes similar comments noting the realistic effects that Bernini had achieved via carving hard marble, such as the texture of the skin, the flying ropes of hair, the tears of Persephone and above all the yielding flesh of the girl. The choice of incident to depict the story is commonly cited as well: Pluto's hands encircle the waist of Proserpina just as she throws her arms out in an attempt to
Bernini was only 23 years old at its completion. It depicts the Abduction of Proserpina, who is seized and taken to the underworld by the god Pluto.
As with many of Bernini's early works, it was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, possibly alongside a portrait of Scipione's uncle Pope Paul V. Bernini received at least three payments for the statue, of value of at least 450 Roman scudi. The sculpture was begun in 1621 and completed in 1622.
Quite soon after its completion, the statue was given by Scipione to Cardinal Ludovisi in 1622, who transported it to his villa. Purchased by the Italian State, it returned to the Villa Borghese in 1908.
Most critics have been quick to praise the work. Rudolf Wittkower noted: representations of such rape scenes depended on Bernini's new, dynamic conception for the next hundred and fifty years. Howard Hibbard makes similar comments noting the realistic effects that Bernini had achieved via carving hard marble, such as the texture of the skin, the flying ropes of hair, the tears of Persephone and above all the yielding flesh of the girl. The choice of incident to depict the story is commonly cited as well: Pluto's hands encircle the waist of Proserpina just as she throws her arms out in an attempt to
Wikipedia ...