Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Gian Bernini was born in 1586 in Naples, Italy. He was raised by his father Pietro Bernini, a popular Mannerist sculptor.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian sculptor and architect who played a key role in the development of Baroque architecture. He is known for his work on St. Peter's Basilica and the colonnade in Vatican City.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the greatest sculptors and architects of the Baroque era, was born in Naples, Italy. His early talent for art was nurtured by his father, a sculptor himself, leading to a successful career creating iconic works of the Baroque period.

Pietro moves his family to Rome for work.

In 1606, Gian Bernini began to work in Rome under the patronage of Pope Paul V, initiating a long-lasting relationship with various popes and church officials.

At the age of 11, Bernini carves his bust of Giovanni Battista Santoni, attracting the attention of the Pope.

Pluto and Proserpina is a sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini depicting the abduction of Proserpina by Pluto. It is a masterpiece of Baroque art, showcasing Bernini's skill in capturing movement and emotion in marble.

Bernini creates The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence and The Goat Amalthea with the Infant Jupiter and a Faun.

Bernini's mature period, marked by works like Saint Lawrence, showcased his devotion to religious themes and artistic mastery. From 1618 to 1625, he created masterpieces such as The Rape of Proserpina and David, revolutionizing sculptural techniques. Bernini's focus on capturing emotion and action in his art set him apart as a leading figure in the Baroque movement.

In 1618, Gian Lorenzo Bernini collaborated with his father on a commission from Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to create four marble putti for the Barberini family chapel in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle.

The sculpture 'Apollo and Daphne' by Gian Lorenzo Bernini was created in 1619 using white marble.

Bernini created a sculpture inspired by a mystical episode experienced by cloistered nun Teresa of Avila. The sculpture features a swooning nun covered in drapery and an angel with a spear. Busts of the Cornaro family are placed on the left and right of the central piece.

A marble bust created in 1621 of Pope Gregory XV, measuring 64 cm in height. It is housed in the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

A life-size marble bust sculpted in 1622 of Cardinal Escoubleau de Sourdis, on display at the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux.

The statue of David, sculpted by Bernini in 1623 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, portrays the biblical hero in a dynamic pose. Building upon Michelangelo's exploration of the human form, Bernini introduced torsion to create a compelling figure that interacts with the viewer's space.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini created an enormous marble, bronze, and gilt baldacchino for St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City under a commission from Pope Urban VIII.

In 1625, Gian Lorenzo Bernini created the sculpture 'Daphne and Apollo', which is known for its dramatic and dynamic portrayal of the mythological subject. The sculpture showcases Bernini's skill in capturing movement and realism in stone.

On November 18, 1626, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome was re-consecrated by Pope Urban VIII after 100 years of planning and building. This event marked the completion of the various embellishment projects of the basilica, including the addition of Maderno's nave and facade.

In 1627, Pope Urban VIII invited Gian Lorenzo Bernini to create a large canopy structure, known as the baldachin, over St. Peter's tomb in St. Peter's Basilica. This project marked Bernini's biggest break as an artist and the beginning of his architectural work.

In 1629, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was appointed as the architect of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, a significant milestone in his career. This role marked the beginning of his extensive architectural contributions to the city.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini received commissions from Cardinal Scipione Borghese for monumental marble groups intended for use in the cardinal’s Roman villa.

In 1633, Gian Lorenzo Bernini completed the baldachin in St. Peter's Basilica, which is considered the first structure created in his Baroque style. The impressive four-story tall structure features ornate spiral columns and elaborate carvings.

Church Propaganda Fide is rebuilt by Borromini.

Bernini carves a bust for English King Charles I from a painting by Van Dyke as a gift from the Pope.

Bernini sculpted an informal bust of Costanza Bonarelli, depicting her in a skimpy chemise with unstyled hair, focusing on her expression and portraying her as radiantly alive, which was unconventional for the time.

Bernini settled down and married Caterina Tezio in May of 1639, following a scandal involving his affair with Costanza Bonarelli and a violent reaction towards his brother.

After the death of Pope Urban VIII in 1644, Bernini completed the tomb for the pope in St. Peter's Basilica. This tomb was part of Bernini's famous series of tombs and funerary monuments, showcasing his influence on European funerary art.

After cracks appeared in the facade of St. Peter's basilica, the bell towers designed by Bernini were demolished in 1646 due to defective foundations laid by Carlo Maderno, causing a major setback in Bernini's career and financial loss.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini created a monument to Pope Alexander VII, consisting of more than fifty figures grouped around a chariot-mounted allegory of Death.

In 1648, Bernini won the prestigious commission for the Four Rivers Fountain on Piazza Navona, marking the end of his disgrace and the beginning of another successful chapter in his life.

Bernini worked on the construction of the Palazzo Ludovisi, which is now known as Palazzo Montecitorio, a Roman palace.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Rome, which stands in front of Palazzo Pamphili.

In 1652, Gian Bernini created The Ecstasy of St. Teresa for the Church of Santa Maria Della Vitta in Rome. This multimedia installation piece involves painting, metalwork, and marble to depict St. Teresa moments before being struck through the heart by an angel.

Bernini falls ill from September 1655 to April 1656.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed Sant’Andrea al Quirinale, known for its extraordinary ecclesiastical interior with an innovative oval-shaped dome.

Bernini showcased his architectural skills in the Church of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome by incorporating concave and convex surfaces in the interior to direct the viewer's gaze towards the centralized plan.

Bernini started the construction of the Palazzo Chigi, now known as Palazzo Chigi-Odescalchi, in 1664.

Bernini presented finished designs for the east front of the Louvre, which were ultimately rejected due to utilitarian reasons and interpersonal conflicts with King Louis XIV. The rejection was not formalized until 1667, well after Bernini's departure from Paris.

In 1670, Luigi Bernini, younger brother of Gianlorenzo Bernini, scandalized the family by raping a young workshop assistant at the construction site of the 'Constantine' memorial in St. Peter's Basilica.

Bernini executed the statue of the Blessed Ludovica Albertoni in just six months under Pope Clement X. The work is located in the chapel dedicated to Ludovica in the Trastevere church of San Francesco a Ripa.

In 1677, Bernini collaborated with Ercole Ferrata to create a fountain for the Lisbon palace of Luís de Meneses, featuring Neptune with four tritons around a basin. The fountain has survived and is now located outside the Palace of Queluz.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini passed away in 1678, leaving behind a legacy of masterpieces that continue to inspire art lovers. His impact on Baroque architecture and sculpture was immense.

Bernini's last securely attributed work of sculpture dating back to 1679, a marble Salvator Mundi bust located in the Basilica of San Sebastian fuori le Mura in Rome.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini passed away on November 28, 1680, in Rome, Papal States. He was a prominent figure in Italian art history, credited with significant contributions to the Baroque style.

Initially believed to be commissioned by Queen Christina of Sweden, recent research suggests that Bernini's sons, particularly the eldest son Pietro Filippo, actually commissioned Filippo Baldinucci to write his father's biography in the late 1670s. The biography was published in Florence in 1682.

Bernini's monumental equestrian statue of Louis XIV, when finally reaching Paris in 1685, was found repugnant by the French king and re-carved into a representation of the ancient Roman hero Marcus Curtius.

Bernini's youngest son, Domenico, wrote a biography about his father's life, which is considered the most important primary source for information about Bernini.

Nicola Salvi's Trevi Fountain, inaugurated in 1735, is cited as an example of the enduring post-mortem influence of Bernini on Rome's landscape. Sculptors and architects continued to study Bernini's works and be influenced by them for several more decades.

One of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's early independent works was the sculpture titled Bacchanal: A Faun Teased by Children. This piece, created in 1976, drew inspiration from the Mannerist motif of intertwined figures.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini assisted in creating a pair of sculptures representing Spring and Fall in the form of Flora and Priapus. These sculptures were crafted in 1990 under the guidance of his father Pietro.

Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris gave a lecture at the Met Museum in 2007 discussing the art and life of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Following its display at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Bernini's exhibition moved to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. The exhibition focused on his portrait busts and provided insight into his artistic evolution.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini's first major American exhibition took place at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition showcased his portrait busts and highlighted his artistic genius and contributions to the world of sculpture.

Kristy Bowen and Summer Stewart discussed Gian Lorenzo Bernini's influences and impact on Baroque art. They covered Bernini's architecture, designs, paintings, and sculptures.