Gian Lorenzo Bernini was a Renaissance man who found time to be a painter, curator, theatre director, actor and scriptwriter. But he was pre-eminent in the field of baroque sculpture, especially in Rome. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St Peter’s Basilica, which Bernini spent 50 years embellishing: under the patronage of Pope Urban VIII he added a 28-metre-high bronze baldacchino; furnished an opulent gilt bronze casing for the Chair of Saint Peter, a holy relic; and decorated the Chapel of the Sacrament. To mark this milestone the Palazzo Barberini is putting on a major exhibition to celebrate Bernini’s work and explore his relationship to Urban VIII, formerly Maffeo Barberini (12 February–14 June). Highlights include dramatic early sculptures such as Saint Sebastian (1616–17), on loan from the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Four Seasons, the point at which Bernini broke free from the influence of his Mannerist father Pietro to forge a bold new path.
Find out more from the Palazzo Barberini’s website.
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