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Workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini - The Risen Christ - Walters 542281 - View B
Summary
In 1673, Bernini was commissioned by Pope Clement X to design gilded figures of the twelve apostles and the Risen Christ to crown the tabernacle of the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter's Basilica. Working from Bernini's designs, Giovanni Rinaldi made the models. Girolamo Lucenti, the bronze founder, had problems casting the Risen Christ, and the initial bronze cast had a flaw across its chest. This cast, now partially repaired and in the Walters' collection, was left in a rough state. The model was recast, gilded, and installed in St. Peter's.
Christ's idealized body recalls ancient sculptures of the sun-god Apollo, praised as having a perfect physique. His striding pose is beautifully balanced while his ascent toward heaven is suggested by the deeply carved, fluttering drapery, seemingly responding to an invisible wind and creating a strong play of light and shadow. Bernini was the greatest sculptor of his age. He imbued figures of both metal and marble with an unsurpassed sense of life and motion.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect who is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the Baroque period. Born in Naples, he began his career as a sculptor in Rome, where he quickly gained fame for his dramatic and emotional works. Bernini's sculptures are characterised by their dynamic and fluid forms, which often appear to be in motion. He was particularly adept at capturing the human form in motion, and many of his works depict figures in dramatic poses, such as his famous statue of David, which shows the biblical hero in the act of hurling a stone at Goliath. In addition to his work as a sculptor, Bernini was also a talented architect and designed many of Rome's most important buildings during his lifetime. These include the famous Colonnade in St Peter's Square, considered one of the greatest achievements of Baroque architecture. Throughout his career, Bernini was a favourite of the papacy and received many commissions from the Catholic Church. His works can be seen in churches and museums throughout Italy and the world, and he remains one of the most important figures in the history of Western art.
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