Some artists become masters while they are in their teenage years or even early twenties, some are simply born with the amazing gift of being able to create wonderful works of art. Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), the leading Baroque artist of the 17th century, definitely falls into the latter category. He left his permanent mark …
Sculptures
A young sculptor from Florence named Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386-1466) visited Rome in the early 15th century to study classical sculpture. The things he learned would revolutionize the world of art in his home city which he decorated with multiple remarkable sculptures in the following decades. In this article, we’ll take a …
The life of Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was one of multiple ups and downs, mainly because of his short temper and often violent behavior. This makes it no surprise that he started writing his autobiography at the age of 58 as he had quite a several interesting stories to tell. He was also one of the …
By the time that Antonio Canova (1757-1822) moved to Rome in 1780, he was already an established artist in the city of Venice. This major city in northeastern Italy was not too far away from his hometown of Possagno in the Venetian Republic. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the …
The family of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) moved from Naples to Rome in the early 17th century, and the world about the great talent of Gian Lorenzo quickly spread around the city. This word eventually reached the highest levels and the young sculptor started receiving high-level commissions from one particular rich patron of the arts …
One of the earliest works by Michelangelo is part of a large monument dedicated to Saint Domenic, the founder of the Dominican order. This monument dates back to the 13th century, over 200 years before the young artist sculpted this work. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Angel …
One of the most intriguing sculptures by Donatello (1386-1466) was one of the 14 works of art commissioned to decorate the exterior of a church in the heart of the Italian city of Florence. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the statue of Saint George, a masterpiece by …
If your patron is the Grand Duke of Tuscany and his predecessor had a monumental Renaissance statue dedicated to them, then you better make sure your work can at least hold a candle to the existing statues. That’s exactly what Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) must have thought when he earned a prestigious commission in the 1540s. …
One of the most intriguing sculptures ever created can be found decorating a stairwell in a famous mansion in London. This isn’t just because of its immense beauty, but because of the notorious man that it depicts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, …
When you enter a relatively obscure church in Rome, you’re able to admire one of the ultimate masterpieces of one of the most famous artists of the Baroque era in history, Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). In this article, you’ll discover some of the most interesting facts about “The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa” by Bernini, an …