Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Bernini

Sant'Andrea delle Fratte

Bernini 1598-1680
Gianlorenzo Bernini was an artist, sculptor and architect who worked mainly in Rome and all over Rome his influence can be seen.
He was noticed by Annibale Carracci when Bernini's father Pietro, an established artist was working for the papacy and while still young he was introduced to patrons Pope Paul V and his nephew Cardinale Scipione Borghese where he began his life size sculpture groups for Villa Borghese.
Under the patronage of Barbarini pope, Urban VIII he was commissioned to design the gilt bronze Baldacchino for over the tomb of Saint Peter in the Basilica and in 1629 he became the main architect of Saint Peter's and the Palazzo Barberini, working with a team of assistants.
Around this time he also began designing tombs and fountains with his first fountain, The Barcaccia built in Piazza di Spagna, and the Tritone fountain in Piazza Barberini (1643).
He was in temporary disgrace in 1646 when the bell towers he began over the facade of St Peters started to crack the building and had to be demolished.
During the time of Innocent X and Alexander VII he produced the Fountain of the Four Rivers, completed the Cornaro Chapel in Santa Maria della Vittoria, designed Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, the design of the Bridge of Angels and the Collonade and Piazza of San Pietro in the Vatican.
Bernini died at 81 after serving eight popes and is buried in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Santa Maria Vittoria


Bernini Art in Rome
Galleria Borghese
Portrait of a boy
Self portrait as a young man
Self portrait as a mature man
Sculpture;
Aneneas, Anchises and Ascanius
Apollo and Daphne
Bust of Scipione Borghese
The Rape of Proserpina
Truth
David
Capitoline Museum
Statue of Pope Urban VIII
Bust of Medusa
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
Paintings:
David with the head of Goliath
Pope Urban VIII
Saint Peter's Square, Colonnades and Statues
Saint Peter's Basilica
The Baldacchino
Tomb of Pope Urban VIII
St. Longinus
St. Augustine (bronze)
Madonna with Child
Bust of Cardinal Scipione Borghese
Bust of Urban VIII
Throne of St. Peter
Tomb of Pope Alexander VII
Vatican Museums
Sculptures:
Charity with four children
Charity with two children
Bust of Pope Urban VIII (bronze)
Emperor Constantine
Daniel & the Lion (terracotta)
Habbakkuk and the Angel (terracotta)
Treasury of San Pietro Vatican
Altar Cross
San Francesco a Ripa
Monument of Beata Ludovica Albertoni
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Elephant and the Obelisk in Piazza Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Memorial to Maria Raggi
Santa Maria della Vittoria
Cornaro Chapel
The Ecstasy of St Therese
Loggia of the Founders
Santa Maria del Popolo
Chigi Chapel
Daniel and the Lion
Habakkuk and the Angel
Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
Original Angels sculptured for the Bridge of Angels:
Angel with the Superscription
Angel with the Crown of Thorns
il Gesù
San Lorenzo in Lucina
Santa Bibiana
Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
Santa Maria in Via Lata
Sant'Angelo Bridge (Bridge of Angels)
10 x Angels designed by Bernini, sculptured by his studio
Fountains
Fontana della Barcaccia-Piazza di Spagna
Fontana del Tritone-Piazza Barberini
Fontana delle Api (fountain of the bees)-Piazza Barberini
Fountain of the Four Rivers-Piazza Navona
Fountain of the Moors-Piazza Navona

Saint Peter's











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Getting Around

I found walking Rome was the best way to see everything.

The metro, trams and buses are also an easy and cheap option.

Buses and the metro can get crowded. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated.

Beware of pickpockets.

Buses 40 (express) and 64 start at Termini and end near Saint Peter's, traveling past places of interest, returning the same way.


Some stops along the 64 route are:

Repubblica

Piazza Venezia

Via Nazionale

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II


Bus 75 takes you past the Colosseum to Trastevere

Bus 910 takes you to Villa Borghese


Ticket Options

€1.50 B.I.T (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) is the standard ticket valid for one metro, unlimited tram or bus rides within 100 minutes.


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Purchasing Bus and Metro tickets.

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Large fines apply to travelers not holding or validating their ticket. Tickets once validated start from the time they have been stamped.



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These are a few of my favourite books about Rome

The Cardinal's Hat by Mary Hollingsworth
This book tells the story of one of the sons of Lucrezia Borgia who became a cardinal during the 16th century.

The Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev
I love this book telling the story of Caterina Sforza who was fighting against the Borgia pope to retain the rights of her land and her freedom.

The Popes by John Julius Norwich
A detailed but easy and enjoyable book to read about the history of the papacy and the popes.

The Pope's Daughter by Caroline P Murphy
This book describes in beautiful detail, the life and times of Pope Julius II daughter, Felice della Rovere.

The Families Who Made Rome by Anthony Majanlahti
I love this Book! It explains the families who made Rome what it is as we see it today and also looks at their triumphs, scandals and failures.

Rome by Robert Hughes
This book explains Rome from its beginning and expands on the Renaissance and Baroque until present times.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
Another of my favourite reads about a lost Caravaggio painting and the search for its provenance.





other sites I trust for information on Rome are:
Rome Art Lover
Churches of Rome wiki