The sculptor at the time was 25 years old having been born in 1598 in naples. The history of the opera the statue depicting david a jewish hero was made by gian lorenzo bernini between 1623 and 1624. The sculpture by gian lorenzo bernini immediately received many acclaim.
Today it is known as the headquarters of the borghese gallery. David is a life size marble sculpture by gian lorenzo bernini the sculpture was one of many commissions to decorate the villa of bernini s patron cardinal scipione borghese where it still resides today as part of the galleria borghese it was completed in the course of seven months from 1623 to 1624. The borghese gallery located inside the villa borghese pinciana in rome is one of the world s most important museums revered in particular for its bernini and caravaggio masterpieces its rooms adorned with spectacular white marble sculptures can really take your breath away.
Here s a look at five magnificent sculptures you can t miss at the borghese gallery in rome. Bernini to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its reopening the galleria borghese will inaugurate a major exhibition dedicated to gian lorenzo bernini which continues the critical discussion begun twenty years ago with the bernini the sculptor exhibition. In order to keep crowd size down to 200 reservation must booked in advance and there is no same day ticket.
The villa was built by the great art collector cardinal scipione borghese who wanted to prove that the glories of ancient rome were matched by the renaissance. According to bruce boucher bernini s works in the villa borghese pitted him against michelangelo and giambologna the greatest sculptors of the previous century. Bernini was an ambitious man and he realized the potential of his great talents.
This however was only a facet of the impact of the villa and the art it contained. These three sculptures are made of marble and freestanding in the round. Bernini s first masterpieces pluto and persephone apollo and daphne and david were commissioned for borghese s suburban villa.
Cardinal scipione borghese a favorite nephew of the pope became one bernini s earliest patrons. The galleria borghese houses a substantial part of the borghese collection of paintings sculpture and. Borghese gallery is an art gallery in rome italy housed in the former villa borghese pinciana at the outset the gallery building was integrated with its gardens but nowadays the villa borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction.
Bernini sculptures villa borghese. The borghese gallery is located in the main building of villa borghese a grand 17th century stately home before becoming an art gallery the building was the home of scipione borghese an italian cardinal. Scipione had such a passion for art that he began collecting it obsessively. He would go to all lengths to acquire masterpieces so that he could exhibit them in his home. Bernini completed several more sculptures of much greater magnitude than the first two commissioned for the family for display in scipione borghese s grand villa.
The villa itself designed by architects flaminio ponzio and giovanni vasanzio was built mainly to house and display the cardinal s extensive art collection.
The villa itself designed by architects flaminio ponzio and giovanni vasanzio was built mainly to house and display the cardinal s extensive art collection. Bernini completed several more sculptures of much greater magnitude than the first two commissioned for the family for display in scipione borghese s grand villa. He would go to all lengths to acquire masterpieces so that he could exhibit them in his home.
Scipione had such a passion for art that he began collecting it obsessively. The borghese gallery is located in the main building of villa borghese a grand 17th century stately home before becoming an art gallery the building was the home of scipione borghese an italian cardinal.