Gianlorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist born in 1598 who became one of the most accomplished sculptors and architects of the Baroque era. He was discovered as a child for his talent in sculpture and was brought to Rome to study under the patronage of a cardinal and the pope. Bernini went on to receive over 30 commissions from Pope Urban VIII and held several official positions, including Architect of St. Peter's Basilica at the age of 30. Some of his most famous works included the baldachin at St. Peter's, designs for St. Peter's Square, and sculptures such as The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.

1. GIANLORENZO BERNINI (Self Portrait, age 25) Born December 7, 1598 Naples, Italy

2. BERNINI 1609: Gianlorezno carves a portrait bust that is so impressive that the Pope asks that the boy be brought to him. He asks the boy to sketch a head of St. Paul, and is so awed by the boy’s talent that he decides the child’s education and training are matters of utmost importance. He entrusts the child to a noted patron, Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, with the hope that the boy will become “ the Michelangelo of our century.” Pope Paul V by Guido Reni

3. BERNINI 1623: Maffeo Barberini assumes the papacy as Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII by Bernini (for the Pope’s tomb in St. Peter’s)

4. BERNINI “ Ecstatic Baroque” (“High Baroque”) “ Catholic Restoration”

5. BERNINI Mary Magdelene, 1661

6. BERNINI St. Jerome, 1661

7. BERNINI Ecstasy of St. Teresa, 1645-52 (Cornaro Chapel, Sta. Maria della Vittoria, Rome)

8. BERNINI Death of the Blessed Lucdovica Albertoni, 1674 (Altieri Chapel, San Francisco a Ripa, Rome)

9. “ ECSTATIC BAROQUE” Ecstasy of St. Margaret of Cortona by Gionvanni Lanfranco

10. BERNINI Bernini: received over 30 commissions from Urban VIII, and several official posts including, at the age of 30, Architect of St. Peter’s.

11. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S

12. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S  Baldacchino Baldacchino: begun in 1624 (when Bernini was 25). Ninety-five foot bronze canopy directly under the dome over the crossing and directly over supposed burial site of St. Peter at the crossing of the basilica

13. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S--Baldacchino (1624-33)

14. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Crossing (Saints and relics)

15. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Cathedra Petri  Cathedra Petri (“Peter’s Chair”): visible upon entering the church and framed by the columns of the Baldacchino.

16. Cathedra Petri: a hollow reliquary— encased by Bernini within is an old wooden chair believed to have been used by St. Peter, making it the first papal throne (in fact, tests of the wood it dates only from the 8 th or 9 th century). BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Cathedra Petri (1657-66)

17. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Interior (tombs) Tomb of Pope Urban VIII

18. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Interior (tombs) Tomb of Pope Alexander VII (1678-79)

19. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Piazza St. Peter’s (1656-67) Piazza St. Peter’s: creates a large, open space where 250,000 people can gather to receive the pope’s blessing from either the basilica or the Vatican Palace directly to the north.

20. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Constantine in Scala Regia Scala Regia  (Royal Staircase) Scala Regia: private entrance used by the pope to go between St. Peter’s and the Vatican. Bernini redesigned the steps so they would be less steep and more regular, and sculpted a statue of Constantine placed in the passage way leading directly into the church.

21. BERNINI: ST. PETER’S—Constantine in Scala Regia

22. BERNINI: ARCHITECTURE—Projects in Rome Ponte Sant’Angelo (1668-70s) Ponte Sant’Angelo: bridge leading to Castel Sant’Angelo; connects secular Rome to the Vatican. Commissioned by Pope Clement IX to sculpt a series of large, inspiring angels, each carrying an instrument of the Passion.

23. BERNINI: ARCHITECTURE—Projects in Rome (Fountains) Fountain of the Four Rivers (Piazza Navona; 1651): allegories of the four continents/ corners of the earth.

24. BERNINI: PORTRAIT SCULPTURE, SCULPTED BUSTS Francesco d’Este, Duke of Modena 1650s: flowing hair, billowing robe or cloak