Somewhere in Rome

Lamp, Rome

The Rape of Proserpina

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/v/gian-lorenzo-bernini-pluto-and-proserpina-1621-22 Bernini's "The Rape of Proserpina" - this was one of Bernini's early works, he was 22 when he did this marble statue. It shocks you when you see it and as you go around the sculpture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_Proserpina You see the impression his arm makes in her leg, you see the shock and disgust in her face. Bernini captures the moment so precisely that it moves you.

The Rape of Proserpina

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/v/gian-lorenzo-bernini-pluto-and-proserpina-1621-22 Bernini's "The Rape of Proserpina" - this was one of Bernini's early works, he was 22 when he did this marble statue. It shocks you when you see it and as you go around the sculpture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rape_of_Proserpina You see the impression his arm makes in her leg, you see the shock and disgust in her face. Bernini captures the moment so precisely that it moves you.

Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix.

Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix. Napolean's scandolous sister, who was married into the Borghese family and a noble lady of Rome, commissioned this neoclassic marble statue of herself. The crease in the mattress and pillows are all carved out of one block of marble. Insane. This was a scandal for the city and the people thronged to see her nude.

Bernini's David

Bernini's David. Photography is usually allowed in Borghese gallery but was forbidden that day (Romans!) and I clandestinely shot these from the hip, hence the distortion. This was a path breaking take on David by Bernini, particularly after the more popular David by Michaelangelo. Bernini specialized in movement, there is a great instability in his sculptures, he captures the subjects just as they are about to perform. Here we see David just about to release his sling. You can see the intensity in David's face. In real life, it comes to life. You see David alive, ready to release. It was something. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Bernini)

Bernini, Apollo and Daphne.

Bernini, Apollo and Daphne. Where do I start? How do I describe this? Please see the Khan academy video I post here. The mythology is explained in the video beautifully, so do see it. This captures the moment where Daphne is turning into a tree. As you see the statue from the front, like here, you see the base of the tree, but as you move around the statue towards the back, you see more and more the tree and from the back, you do not see Daphne, you only see a tree. It is brilliant. Bernini captured the exact time where her arms are turning into branches. The reactions of Apollo and Daphne is captured at just that right moment. The details are spectacular. The whole sculpture is in motion and it is insance it was chiseled out a single block of marble. This is when I was thankful I had an art historian as my tour guide and realized that art could move me. Lucky to have seen this in person. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/v/bernini-apollo-and-daphne-1622-25

Bernini, Apollo and Daphne.

Bernini, Apollo and Daphne. Where do I start? How do I describe this? Please see the Khan academy video I post here. The mythology is explained in the video beautifully, so do see it. This captures the moment where Daphne is turning into a tree. As you see the statue from the front, like here, you see the base of the tree, but as you move around the statue towards the back, you see more and more the tree and from the back, you do not see Daphne, you only see a tree. It is brilliant. Bernini captured the exact time where her arms are turning into branches. The reactions of Apollo and Daphne is captured at just that right moment. The details are spectacular. The whole sculpture is in motion and it is insance it was chiseled out a single block of marble. This is when I was thankful I had an art historian as my tour guide and realized that art could move me. Lucky to have seen this in person. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/baroque-italy/v/bernini-apollo-and-daphne-1622-25

Roof of Chiesa di San Giacomo in Augusta.

Roof of Chiesa di San Giacomo in Augusta. Rome is mind boggling. You can walk into any cathedral in any street and it will stun you, like this one did. It is also absurd. This catehdral is in a busy street filled with high end fashion stores. This nondescript dome and a wooden door, you enter it and you are floored.

Vida dei Greci

Via dei Greci. Just another Roman alleyway.

Pantheon

Pantheon, in Rome.

Pantheon interior

Stunning interior of Pantheon

Interior of pantheon

The stunning interor of the Pantheon.

Pantheon

The pantheon was built in 100AD. A perfect dome with one source of sunlight at the top of the dome and all marbles inside in a city where there is no marble available. What an amazing engineering marvel and culture!

Sant'Andrea della Valle

Sant'Andrea della Valle Walking from Pantheon towards Pizza Novana, we walked into this bascillica and were blown away and stunned. Every street in Rome has a church like this. You need a lifetime.

Sant'Andrea della Valle

The stunning baroque interiors of Sant'Andrea della Valle.

Street lamp.

Chiesa di Santa Maria

Chiesa di Santa Maria ai Monti at a distance.

Chiesa di Santa Maria ai Monti

Chiesa di Santa Maria ai Monti at a distance.

Campo di Fiori

Campo di Fiori

Michalangelo's Moses

Michaelangelo's statue of Moses at Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli.

Colosseum

Colosseum

Arch of Titus and Colesseum.

Arch of Titus and Colesseum.