A-Level: Baroque mythological sculpture

videos + essays

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, <em>Pluto and Proserpina</em> (or <em>The Rape of Proserpina</em>)
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Pluto and Proserpina (or The Rape of Proserpina)

Pluto hoists up Proserpina. She resists, pushing him away. Their desires clash, creating a dynamic composition.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, <em>Bust of Medusa</em>
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Bust of Medusa

She’s a monster, but in this poignant marble bust, Medusa becomes a victim of her own plight.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, <em>Apollo and Daphne</em>
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Apollo and Daphne

Skin transforms into bark, limbs sprout branches, and stone softens into flesh. What a perfect subject for Bernini.