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 …
Sculptures
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 …
Although Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), or simply “Michelangelo,” is recognized today as one of the greatest Renaissance artists in history, he still had to work hard in the beginning stages of his career to establish himself. He even committed an actor of fraud when he tried to pass on one of his works …
When Antonio Canova (1757-1822) arrived in Rome, he had to start all over with establishing a reputation, the same as he did during his early period in Venice. The work described in this article is what put the Neoclassical artist on the map in Italy’s capital. Let’s take a closer at some of the most …
When Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) visited St Peter’s Basilica for the first time as a little boy, he had a dream to create monumental works of art to decorate it. He not only achieved his dream and became the interior architect of the largest church in the world, but also left his permanent mark on …