A Tour of Bernini's Masterpieces in Rome
The works of the sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini can be found around every corner of the Italian capital, from awe-inspiring statues to the design of some of the most famous fountains and piazzas. Here is a guide to some of the most important and recognizable masterpieces of Rome’s Baroque genius.
1. St Peter's Basilica
Church
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At the back of the church, Bernini was also responsible for the decoration around the Chair of St Peter, another elaborate work in bronze, and to the rear left is the celebrated Monument to Alexander VII which depicts not only the pope but a bronze skeleton with an hourglass, reminding the viewer of the fleeting nature of time. Other works in St Peter’s include the Tomb of Urban VIII and the statue of St Longinus, both of which show Bernini’s mastery in marble and bronze.
2. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Building, Church
The piazza in front of the charming church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, situated near the Pantheon, is home to the so-called ‘Bernini Elephant’, sculpted as the base of an Egyptian obelisk which was discovered in the area. The meaning of the image is unknown but existing plans for the monument show various designs by Bernini, before he eventually settled on a benevolent face for the elephant. Inside the church there is another Bernini work, the Monument to Maria Raggi, a nun who lived nearby. The monument is attached to a pillar along the nave and was a revolutionary style of sepulchral monument with its flowing drapes of gold and bronze.
3. Piazza Navona
Church
The beautiful statues which line the Ponte Sant’ Angelo bridge were commissioned by Pope Clement IX in 1669 to replace the former, damaged sculptures. The 10 new angels, which are each holding an object of Christ’s Passion, were designed by Bernini and carried out for the most part by his students. Two of the sculptures, The Angel with the Scroll and The Angel with the Crown of Thorns, were sculpted by Bernini himself along with his son Paolo. These two Bernini originals were eventually kept by the pope for his own collection and copies were placed on the bridge. They can now by found in the Church of Sant’ Andrea delle Fratte, located close to Piazza Barberini.
4. Galleria Borghese
Museum, Park
5. Santa Maria della Vittoria
Church
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